Laguna Wildfire Weekly Update – 8/18/2025

Joseph Medina – Incident Commander

Acres: 17,415

Start Date: 6/25/2025

Containment: 90 %

Location: Located in the Coyote Ranger District, 8 miles north of New Mexico State Road 96 and west of the Chama River Canyon Wilderness.

Resources: 1 engine | 1 water tender                     

Fuels: Oak brush, ponderosa pine, Piñon-juniper

Highlights: Updates will be provided once a week, unless significant activity or changes occur. The next Laguna Wildfire Weekly Update will be provided Monday August 25, 2025.

Over the weekend, the Laguna Wildfire transitioned command to a Type 5 Incident Commander.  A Type 5 incident is defined as low complexity with few fire resources assigned.

The wildfire remains within containment lines. Last week, the burned area experienced an increase in storm activity. Gusty winds created some visible smoke in nearby communities. Fire crews continue to monitor for smoke and patrol containment lines. The containment percentage has increased to 90%.

The Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) team has completed their soil burn severity map and it is available to view at Inciweb-Laguna Wildfire or NM Fire Info.

Weather and Smoke:  The burned area may experience a slight chance of precipitation with showers and thunderstorms forecast starting Tuesday through the weekend. Light smoke may be present as small interior pockets of unburned fuels are consumed. For the most up to date smoke information, visit https://fire.airnow.gov/.

Safety: The Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) was released on 8/2. For the safety of our firefighters please avoid the area where crews are working.

Closures and Evacuations:  The Laguna Wildfire Closure Order has been lifted. Please exercise caution when traveling within the burned area. Gallina Ranch remains in READY evacuation status.

More Information: 505-435-5320 | claudia.brookshire@usda.gov | x.com/SantafeNF | facebook.com/santafeNF | Inciweb-Laguna Wildfire | NM Fire Information

About the Forest Service: The USDA Forest Service has for more than 100 years brought people and communities together to answer the call of conservation. Grounded in world-class science and technology– and rooted in communities–the Forest Service connects people to nature and to each other. The Forest Service cares for shared natural resources in ways that promote lasting economic, ecological, and social vitality. The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, provides assistance to state and private landowners, maintains the largest wildland fire and forestry research organizations in the world. The Forest Service also has either a direct or indirect role in stewardship of about 900 million forested acres within the U.S., of which over 130 million acres are urban forests where most Americans live.

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