July 12, 2023 
Magdalena Ranger District
Albuquerque, NM – July 12, 2023
Start Date / Time: July 10, 2023 / 1443
Cause: Lightning Strike on July 10, 2023
Size: 71 acres
Location: Water Canyon on the Magdalena Ranger District
Resources on scene: USFS Salmon Rappelers from Central Idaho, Lincoln NF Smokey Bear Hot Shots, Idaho City Hot Shots and 2 water tenders from Valencia County and Rio Community. Aerial support with helicopter reconnaissance flights.
Fuels: Pinyon-Juniper, timber and grass.
Fire behavior: The Water Canyon Fire is exhibiting minimal fire behavior.
Containment: 45%.
Strategy: The strategy full suppression. Crews continue to mop up and secure the fire perimeter to mitigate any identified threats to control lines. The fire has been burning at moderate intensity, cleaning up the understory and leaving the tree canopies intact.
Values at risk: The Water Canyon Fire is not a threat to any values at risk or communities, and there are no evacuations in effect.
Safety: The health and safety of firefighters and the public are always the first priority. Members of the public should avoid the Water Canyon area of the Magdalena Ranger District to allow fire suppression operations.
Drones pose a serious risk to firefighting and can cause air operations to cease.
The public is reminded that “If you fly, we can’t!”
Smoke may be visible in the surrounding areas of Hwy 60 in Magdalena, Socorro and San Antonio, NM within a 50 mile radius of the Water Canyon Fire. Smoke-sensitive individuals and people with respiratory problems or heart disease are encouraged to take precautionary measures. Information on air quality and protecting your health can be found online at the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) Environmental Public Health Tracking (EPHT) website nmtracking.org
Weather: Afternoon showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 3pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 90. Northwest wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms. Tonight: Scattered showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 9pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 67. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. https://www.weather.gov/
All fire updates will be posted on the Cibola NF & NGs website, New Mexico Fire Information website, and the Cibola NF & NGs Facebook & Twitter pages.
NM Fire Info 
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