August 15, 2025 
Mt. Taylor Ranger District
Vereda Blanca Fire Operations: No significant changes in fire behavior have been observed in the past few days. Crews worked to hold the fire edges and continue to scout for spotting. Small amounts of rainfall have been aiding in the suppression efforts. Fire behavior can be categorized as backing and creeping with isolated torching. Looking forward, dip tanks will be utilized to support suppression.
Vereda Blanca Fire Reported start date / time: August 8, 2025 / 0731
Cause: Lightning.
Location: Northeast Mt Taylor Ranger District near Black Mesa and northeast of Grants, NM. See attached map.
Size: 1,307 acres. Strategy: Full suppression. Containment: 4%
Fire Behavior: Moderate. Fuels: Pinyon-juniper and ponderosa pine.
Resources: Firefighters from the USFS, BLM and contractors are on scene with aerial resources. 161 personnel.
Values at risk: The Vereda Blanca Fire is not a threat to any communities, and there are no evacuations in effect.
Multiple sensitive cultural resources and potential wildlife habitat may be at risk.
Smoke: Smoke may be visible west of the surrounding areas of the Grants, Milan, Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Cuba and Jemez. An interactive smoke map at https://fire.airnow.gov allows you to zoom into areas to see the latest smoke conditions.
Safety: The health and safety of firefighters and the public are always the first priority. Members of the public should avoid the Vereda Blanca Fire area.
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!”
Weather forecast for Grants, NM: Friday (8/15/25) Showers and possibly a thunderstorm after noon. High near 85. North wind around 5 mph becoming southwest in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch. Saturday (8/16/25) Scattered showers and thunderstorms after noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 84. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch https://www.weather.gov/.
All fire information and updates will be posted on the inciweb.wildfire.gov, Cibola NF & NGs website, New Mexico Fire Information website, and the Cibola NF & NGs Facebook & X pages.
NM Fire Info 
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