Lincoln National Forest West Mountain Fire: Final Update

CAPITAN, New Mexico, August 29 2023 –  Crews from the Smokey Bear Ranger District are finishing work on the West Mountain Fire, a lightning-caused wildfire that began on August 3, 2023. The work completed is part of long-term goals in forest land management and wildfire mitigation efforts on the Lincoln National Forest.

The West Mountain Fire occurred on West Mountain, in the Capitan Mountain Range northeast of the village of Capitan. Crews utilized a confine-and-contain strategy, while allowing the natural wildfire activity to clear heavy fuel buildup in the area.

Crews were able to create parameters and contain the fire, which was ultimately 625 acres in size. The fuels in the area consisted of pinyon pine, juniper, and mixed conifer, as well as dead and down trees. Decades of fire suppression have resulted in a hazardous buildup of these fuels, as well as damage to the health of some fire-dependent species, such as aspen groups in the area.

Monsoonal rains ultimately halted the fire progression on August 26, and the size of operations was reduced. The area continues to be monitored the area for hotspots and flare ups, and will continue to do so as the area continues to cool. The Forest Service will also continue to monitor the area for regrowth of grasses and other plants to gather data on the long-term health of the area.

The management tactics of the West Mountain Fire aligns with the Forest Service’s 10-year Wildfire Crisis Strategy, which aims to increase the use of fire on the landscape as well as other treatments to improve forest resiliency for generations to come. Decades of research has shown that forests need regular fire to remove these hazardous fuels. The intended result of managing naturally-caused wildfires is to encourage the growth of native plants, increase species diversity, and restore ecological balance, ultimately reducing the potential for future high-severity wildfires.

This will be the final update on the West Mountain Fire unless there are any breaking developments.