Southwest Incident Management Team 2 Takes Command of the Seven Cabins Fire

May 30, 2026 by atperea 0 Comments

Daily Update: May 30, 2026

Acres: 28,910 Start Date: May 14, 2026

Location: Capitan Mountain Wilderness Cause: Human caused

Personnel: 841 personnel

Fuels: Heavy dead fuels in the Peppin burn scar

Containment: 48% Contained

Highlights: Conditions will continue to warm and dry. Fuels can dry very quickly. The public should stay alert and avoid any activities that could spark a fire. Monitor official information for changing conditions.

Operations: Southwest Area Incident Management Team 2 took operational control of firefighting operations this morning. Team 1 did an excellent and professional job of managing the fire, giving the incoming team the resources required to continue efforts uninterrupted. Today, around most of the fire’s perimeter work will continue to rehabilitate the landscape from firefighting operations. Equipment no longer in use will be backhauled and refurbished for use in future operations. Dozer lines will be covered with dirt and wood chips produced from downed trees. As soon as seed arrives, seeding operations will proceed to revegetate some areas. While this work is progressing, crews will continue to patrol for hotspots which will become evident as fuels warm and dry. They will be extinguished if found to endanger the fire’s perimeter. Other firefighters will remain assigned to initial attack duties, ensuring the surrounding areas do not go unprotected. Changing weather conditions will require continued vigilance. Firefighter and public safety will remain a top priority

Weather: Thunderstorms have decreased since Thursday’s storms came through the area. Temperatures are forecast to increase, but wind will decrease slightly. Relative humidity has already plunged, reaching a low of 15% yesterday. They may reach as low as 10% tomorrow. Weather can change rapidly, so remain attentive to changing conditions.

Smoke: As fuels dry and temperatures increase, scattered smokes may become visible. Impacts will be limited to the immediate vicinity of the fire. For air quality information, please check local conditions at Fire.AirNow.gov.

Closures and Warnings: A forest closure is in effect across the Capitan Mountain area, extending east and south of Highway 246 to the Forest Service boundary and continuing south to Forest Service Road 57. Baca campground is included in the closure. Stage 1 fire restrictions also remain in effect. A Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) is in place over the fire to ensure safe access for firefighting aircraft. If a drone enters the restricted airspace, all firefighting aircraft must be grounded to ensure safety. Remember “If You Fly, We Can’t.”

Forest Closure Order: (https://www.fs.usda.gov/r03/lincoln/alerts/order-03-08-01-26-001-seven-cabins-fire-closure)

Fire Restrictions: (https://www.fs.usda.gov/r03/lincoln/alerts/order-03-08-26-001-stage-1-fire-restrictions)

Evacuations: Evacuation statuses continue to be evaluated daily. The SET status remains in place, including the Fort Lone Tree area down to Padilla Ranch, extending east to Forest Road 57 and the Forest boundary. The SET status for State Highway 246 from mile marker 13 to the ridgeline of the Capitan Mountains near Boy Scout Mountain remains in place.

Residents in all SET areas should stay alert to changing conditions and be prepared to leave if necessary. For more information or to sign up for alerts, visit

(https://www.lincolncountynm.gov/services/fire___emergency_services/index.php).

Safety: Although smoke has decreased across the fire area, crews, heavy equipment, and machinery remain active in and around the incident. The safety of firefighters and the public is our highest priority, and we ask everyone to stay aware of ongoing operations. Fire personnel will continue working along area road systems, and increased caution from the public helps keep both firefighters and community members safe.

Phone Number: 505-217-0120 (7a.m. – 7p.m.)

Email: 2026.SevenCabins@firenet.gov

Inciweb: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/nmlnf-seven-cabins-fire

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SevenCabinsFire/