Middle Mesa Fire Update – Aug. 11

Potential for dry thunderstorms keeps firefighters vigilant

Acres: 5,047
Start Date: August 1, 2025 
Location: 22 mi. west of Dulce, NM 
Cause: Lightning 
Personnel: 470
Fuels: Timber and brush 
Containment: 44% 
Resources:   8 crews | 25 engines | 3 helicopters | 3 bulldozers | 12 water tenders

Highlights: Multiple days of hard work resulted in additional containment on the southeast side of the fire. With additional containment added today, fire operations felt comfortable to recommend that the Rio Arriba Sheriff’s Office downgrade evacuation statuses to READY. Firefighters remain vigilant as extremely dry conditions and the threat of thunderstorms remains.

Operations: On Sunday activity moderated across the fire area, except for the southwest side near No Name Canyon, where ground resources directed water bucket drops from a helicopter to cool down the heat cool interior heat. Across the rest of the fire perimeter, firefighters continued to patrol and extinguish smoking stumps near the containment lines. With containment increasing, a night shift will no longer be needed. Some of those resources will roll over to support day operations while some will be reassigned to new incidents around the state. Today firefighters will continue securing the uncontained fire’s edge, mopping up and patrolling. Resources remain on alert as fire danger remains extremely high with the threat of high winds from dry thunderstorms potentially increasing fire activity during the afternoon hours. A masticator finished brush removal on Forest Road 218J, which can be used as a back-up contingency line if needed. Other heavy equipment including a road grader and water tenders are improving Forest Road 218 after it received heavy traffic from emergency vehicles.

Weather: There is a 20% chance of dry thunderstorms this afternoon and evening. High temperatures will be in the 90s with low relative humidities as dry conditions continue. Wind will gust to 25 mph in the afternoon. There are increasing moisture and thunderstorm chances Tuesday which could bring dry lightning.   

Smoke: For smoke information:  https://www.env.nm.gov/air-quality/fire-smoke-links/

Closures: There are no forest closures in effect. However, out of public and firefighter safety the public is urged not to go into the fire area. 

Evacuations: For evacuation information: https://www.rio-arriba.org/departments_and_divisions/sheriff.html

Safety: Drivers should use caution when traveling near the fire area. Drivers are asked to be mindful of firefighting equipment and resources around the fire area. As activity increases throughout the afternoon, smoke may impact nearby roads. Drivers should use caution when traveling around the fire aera.