North Sandia Mountain Wilderness – Sandia Ranger District (Albuquerque, NM – June 20, 2026) — Firefighters continue with direct extinguishment strategy on the Osha Canyon Fire within the northern Sandia Mountain Wilderness on the Sandia Ranger District of the Cibola National Forest & National Grasslands. Operations: Yesterday afternoon a type 1 helicopter based out of […]

Acres: 184 Start Date: June 16, 2026Location: Mesa De La Gallina, 3 miles northeast of Chicoma Mountain Fuels: Oak brush, Ponderosa PineContainment: 0% Personnel: 144Cause: Lightning Highlights: Firefighters continued to make strong progress Friday, using a full suppression strategy to slow the fire’s spread. No structures have been lost to date. Significant heat remains on […]

Moderate rainfall helps contain the fire Santa Fe, NM, June 19, 2026 — The Elk Fire on the Pecos-Las Vegas Ranger District was detected on June 19, 2026. The fire is burning 0.5 miles east of Jack’s Creek Campground and 1.5 miles northwest of Iron Gate Campground. The fire is burning within the Pecos Wilderness, […]

Osha Canyon Fire – North Sandia Mountain Wilderness (Albuquerque, NM – June 19, 2026) — Fire resources are actively responding to suppress the Osha Canyon Fire within the northern Sandia Mountain Wilderness on the Sandia Ranger District of the Cibola National Forest & National Grasslands. Aerial resources responding to include a type 1 helicopter and […]

Acres: 166                                                                                                                                                                                     Start Date: June 16, 2026 Location: Mesa De La Gallina, 3 miles northeast of Chicoma Mountain                                                                                      Fuels: Oak brush, Ponderosa Pine Containment: 0%                                                                                                                                                     Resources: 70 Cause: Lightning Highlights: The Northern New Mexico Type 3 Team (IMT), Incident Commander Luke McLarty took command of the Rio Fire this morning at 6:00 […]

Due to Increased Containment, Set Status Lifted for Residences Near Bear Fire  Acres: 7,769 acres Start Date: June 9, 2026  Location: 18 miles southeast of Quemado, NM Personnel: 298 Containment: 91% Cause: Lightning  Summary: Containment on the Bear Fire increased to 91% on Thursday.   A small portion of the fire perimeter on the east flank remains uncontained. Control lines are in place along the fire’s edge, and forward progress has been stopped, though some heat remains in this area. Private property located immediately to the fire’s east is no longer in imminent danger. Following the […]

Acres: 128                                  Fuels: Oak brush, Ponderosa Pine  Start Date: June 16, 2026        Containment: 0%  Resources: 70   Location: Mesa De La Gallina, 3 miles northeast of Chicoma Mountain  Highlights: The Rio Fire, located in the Espanola Ranger District, is burning in steep terrain with heavy fuel loads. […]

Media Contact: (505)438-5320 Multiple fires contained using a full suppression strategy Santa Fe, NM, June 18, 2026 — Recent thunderstorms and increased fire danger brought multiple fire starts on the Santa Fe National Forest. The Rio Fire, located in the Espanola Ranger District, continues to burn in brush, heavy dead-and-down fuels. The fire is 0% contained […]

Suppression Repair Underway on Bear Fire  Acres: 7,769 acres Start Date: June 9, 2026  Location: 18 miles southeast of Quemado, NM Personnel: 358 Containment: 82% Cause: Lightning  Summary: Firefighters focused on strengthening and securing containment lines yesterday as hot, dry, and windy conditions presented an increased threat for fire activity across the incident. Crews extinguished hot spots near the fire’s edge to keep the fire within its current footprint. As containment continues to increase, resources and personnel assigned to the […]

Withington Wilderness – San Mateo Mountains (Albuquerque, NM – June 18, 2026) — Yesterday firefighters responded to an aviation detected wildfire in eastern Withington Wilderness within the San Mateo Mountains. Ground crews located 2 lightning-struck trees. Firefighters actively engaged the fire to stop fire spread using direct extinguishment strategy. Crews remained on scene through the […]

Northern New Mexico Type 3 Team ordered Santa Fe, NM, June 17, 2026 —The Rio Fire located in the Espanola Ranger District on Mesa De La Gallina three miles northeast of Chicoma Mountain has grown to 128 acres. Red flag conditions, heavy dead-and-down fuels and limited safe access to the fire contributed to the fire’s growth. […]

All fires currently burning on the Santa Fe National Forest are under a full suppression, direct extinguishment strategy. Santa Fe, NM, June 17, 2026 —Multiple fires on the Santa Fe National Forest were detected after a thunderstorm moved through Northern New Mexico on June 15, 2026. The Pelada Fire located in the Pecos-Las Vegas Ranger District […]

Containment Increases on Bear Fire  Acres: 7,769 acres Start Date: June 9, 2026  Location: 18 miles southeast of Quemado, NM Personnel: 495 Containment: 61% Cause: Lightning  Summary: Around-the-clock suppression actions led to a significant jump in containment on the Bear Fire, which did not grow in acreage today. Firefighter’s efforts ensured containment lines held when higher temperatures and drier air moved in.  Firefighters continue working to extinguish hotspots along the fire perimeter, reducing the potential for […]

Multiple resources on scene Santa Fe, NM, June 16, 2026 —The Pelada Fire on the Pecos-Las Vegas Ranger District was detected the evening of Tuesday, June 16, 2026. The fire is located six miles southeast of Santa Fe on Forest Road 79, and three miles north of Canada Los Alamos. The fire is currently four to […]

Firefighters respond Santa Fe, NM, June 16, 2026 —A thunderstorm rolled through Northern New Mexico yesterday June 15, 2026, starting multiple small fires across the Santa Fe National Forest. The Oso Fire located on the Espanola Ranger District along the Rio Del Oso approximately two miles northeast of Chicoma Mountain, is currently one tenth of an […]

Firefighters prepare for incoming warm weather by securing and strengthening lines   Acres: 7,769 Start Date: June 9, 2026  Location: 18 miles southeast of Quemado, NM Personnel: 495 Containment: 35% Cause: Lightning  Summary: Yesterday, firefighters increased containment along the perimeter of the fire.    Protection around values at risk has increased as crews completed preparation around the Mangas Fire Lookout. Firefighters also worked on improving roads for crew’s access and safety by removing snags and other hazards. There is a potential for unburned pockets of fuel to burn […]

Multiple small lightning fires confirmed Santa Fe, NM, June 15, 2026 —A thunderstorm crossed Northern New Mexico today producing significant precipitation and lightning. Two small lightning fires have been confirmed. The Gallina Fire located on the Cuba Ranger District was reported at one tenth of an acre, burning in oak brush. Fire is located in Regina, […]

Effective on June 18, 2026 Reducing the Risk of Human-Caused Wildfires Albuquerque, NM – June 15, 2026 –The Cibola National Forest and National Grasslands will implement Stage II Fire Restrictions on the Mt. Taylor Ranger District beginning Thursday June 18 at 8:00 a.m. due to increased fire danger. The purpose of this Order is to […]

Firefighters Make Progress on the Bear Fire  Acres: 6,920.4 Start Date: June 9, 2026  Location: 18 miles southeast of Quemado, NM Personnel: 496 Containment: 11% Cause: Lightning  Summary: Firefighters increased containment on the Bear Fire yesterday. Fair weather contributed to their progress toward full suppression.  Crews used a variety of tools and tactics to minimize the footprint of the Bear Fire and protect values at risk yesterday. Firefighters constructed handline to protect private land on the fire’s eastern flank. They also employed heavy equipment to bolster protection for Mangas Mountain […]

Moderated Weather Conditions Help Firefighters on Bear Fire  Acres: 6,654 Start Date: June 9, 2026  Location: 18 miles southeast of Quemado, NM Personnel: 471 Containment: 3% Cause: Lightning  Summary: Favorable weather conditions and hard work by firefighters increased containment to 3% on the Bear Fire with more containment expected today. Work continues to protect values at risk and stop fire progression.  Despite moderated weather conditions the fire behavior remained active on Saturday.  The Bear Fire spread to the southwest yesterday, moving through heavy dead and […]