Press Release – March 30, 2026

Firefighters Securing Perimeter of Smoldering Sago Fire

Acres: 282

Start Date: Thursday, March 26, 2026

Location: 19 Miles E of Mescalero, NM

Personnel: 105 personnel

Containment: 17%

Cause: Under investigation

Summary: Firefighters continue working to secure the Sago Fire perimeter.  Crews will also begin assessing repair needs today.

Resources assigned to the fire include the Smokey Bear hotshot crew, two water tenders, three bulldozers, nine engines, and one T2IA crew. Medical resources arrived Sunday morning to support the incident.

The Gila Las Cruces Type 3 Incident Management Team is meeting the logistical challenge presented by the fire’s remote location. Most resources are based at a spike camp near the fire. Deliveries of food and supplies are managed out of the incident command post at the BIA Mescalero Agency Apache Summit facility. The team is utilizing local restaurants for firefighter meals.

The Sago Fire is burning in grass along with juniper, piñon, and ponderosa pine near Cow Camp Facilities on the Mescalero Reservation.

Weather: Monday’s forecasted high is 77 degrees. Minimum relative humidity values will be in the teens and low 20s. Wednesday may still bring precipitation. There’s a possibility of Red Flag Warning conditions later in the week.

Safety: Members of the public should avoid Sago Canyon Road and Turkey Canyon Road to enhance firefighter safety.

Fire Restrictions:

• Class III High Fire Danger Restrictions are in effect on the Mescalero Reservation. This means campfires are permissible only within the designated camp areas of Silver Lake. Smoking outdoors is permitted when extinguished in a proper container. Fireworks of any kind are never permitted during High Fire Danger. There are no restrictions on the use of charcoal grills and wood-burning stoves. Dwellings with fireplaces or wood burning stoves shall have proper screens installed to prevent the escape of burning embers. Chainsaws and other internal or external combustion engines must always be equipped with a properly functioning spark arrestor. Precautionary measures and required fire equipment are in effect for all forest-related contract work and will be implemented by contract administrators. Be cautious while driving in the forest and through tall grass.
• The Village of Ruidoso is observing Level 1 fire restrictions as detailed at ruidoso-nm.gov/fire-restrictions.
• The Lincoln National Forest also implemented Stage 1 Fire Restrictions this week. Read the forest order at fs.usda.gov/r03/lincoln/alerts/order-03-08-26-001-stage-1-fire-restrictions.
• The Bureau of Land Management imposed fire restrictions on public land in Lincoln County too. Details are available at blm.gov/sites/default/files/docs/2026-01/fire-prevention-order-blm-nm-910-2026-01.pdf.

Smoke: For real-time smoke conditions, visit fire.airnow.gov.

For more information:

Public Information Officer: Jennifer Olson, 2026.sago@firenet.gov

Incident Information: inciweb.wildfire.gov/nmmea-sago-fire