Osha Canyon Fire – June 20 Update

North Sandia Mountain Wilderness – Sandia Ranger District

(Albuquerque, NM – June 20, 2026) — Firefighters continue with direct extinguishment strategy on the Osha Canyon Fire within the northern Sandia Mountain Wilderness on the Sandia Ranger District of the Cibola National Forest & National Grasslands.

Operations: Yesterday afternoon a type 1 helicopter based out of Los Alamos Airport and large air tanker from ABQ Air Tanker Base made multiple drops for initial attack. A ground crew hiked to the fire area in the early evening and worked into the night to establish fireline around the perimeter. Today, with additional resources on scene, firefighters will continue to build containment lines and respond to hot spots. Aviation resources will continue to support suppression operations.

Reported start date / Time: June 19, 2026 / 1322

Cause: Lightning strike.

Size: Estimate 1 acre.

Containment: 0%

Location: Northern Sandia Mountain Wilderness south of Placitas, west of FSR 165 within the Sandia Ranger District on the Cibola National Forest, New Mexico.

Smoke may be visible in the surrounding areas of Placitas and Bernalillo.  

Resources on Scene: US Forest Service Sandia Ranger District Engine 652, Coconino National Forest Blue Ridge Hotshots and multiple air resources available to support operations.

Strategy: Resources will utilize Direct Extinguishment Strategy.

Safety: The health and safety of firefighters and the public are always the first priority. Members of the public should avoid the Osha Canyon 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!”

Values at risk: The Osha Canyon Fire is not a threat to any values at risk or communities at this time.

Fuels: Mixed Conifer.

Fire behavior is creeping and smoldering.

Weather: Today for Albuquerque, NM (June 20, 2026): Sunny and hot, with a high near 99. Light and variable wind becoming southwest 10 to 15 mph in the afternoon. Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 62. Southwest wind 5 to 15 mph becoming southeast after midnight. https://www.weather.gov/

Additional updates will be sent as new information is received. 

Any information on the Osha Canyon Fire will also be posted on the  Cibola NF & NGs website, New Mexico Fire Information website, and the Cibola NF & NGs Facebook  & X pages.

About the Forest Service: The 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, and 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.