Santa Fe National Forest Dry Gulch Wildfire Update

Wildfire in Pecos/Las Vegas Ranger District is 100% contained

The Dry Gulch Wildfire, located in the Pecos/Las Vegas Ranger District, is 10.49 acres and 100% contained as of Monday, April 29, 2024. The wildfire was first reported on the morning of Friday April 26, 2024, and is located south of Dalton Canyon, and west of N.M. State Highway 63, directly north of the village of Pecos. The cause of the wildfire is undetermined, but lightning was confirmed in the area Thursday night.

Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF) fire resources, the SFNF hotshots and Battalion 10-5, will continue to extinguish and remove burning material in the interior of the fire area this week.

According to Kerry Jones, Forest Service Meteorologist, “Gusty winds on warm, dry, and unstable days, like this Wednesday May 1, will contribute to elevated if not critical fire weather concerns.  Much of the Santa Fe National Forest received beneficial precipitation this past weekend; however, it has been a very dry month across northern New Mexico. In fact, portions of the Pecos/Las Vegas Ranger District have received less than 10 percent of normal precipitation month-to-date while remaining districts have seen less than 25-50%. Despite lingering snowpack in the high country, dry conditions are present at lower elevations. The outlook through the first weekend of May calls for very little or no chance of precipitation with bouts of enhanced windiness especially Wednesday and Thursday.

With dry conditions forecast we need your help! Here are some ways you can help prevent forest fires when visiting the SFNF:

• Never leave a campfire unattended – always monitor a campfire.
• Be cautious with heat and fire – never burn trash and if you are using a stick or poker to move the fire around be cautious. Do not build a campfire near plants or tree limbs.
• Factor in wind – take wind, and its direction, into account when building a campfire.
• Have a fire extinguishing solution – keep a fire extinguisher in your camping gear or a shovel and water nearby.
• Monitor campfire until it is fully out – drown campfire ashes in water and check that there is no heat.
• Be a responsible smoker – fully extinguish your cigarette and take it with you. Do not throw a cigarette out the window while driving.
• Know your local conditions and regulations – Call or visit SFNF Ranger District Offices to learn what weather conditions are like and if campfires are allowed.

This concludes fire information for the Dry Gulch Wildfire. For updates on wildfires on the SFNF visit the SFNF website, NM Fire Information, and the SFNF social media (Facebook and X).

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