SWCIMT3 Prepares to Transfer Command of the McCauley Springs Fire to Santa Fe National Forest, Jemez Ranger District

McCauley Springs Fire FINAL Update – July 4, 2026

Southwest Complex Incident Management Team 3 – Matt Rau Incident Commander

Acres: 712                                            

Containment: 77%                                     

Start Date: June 24, 2026

Location: Jemez Ranger District, east of Battleship Rock                             

Cause: Undetermined

Fuels: Timber, grass & understory, hardwood litter                                               

Personnel: 300                                      

Highlights: Crews are nearing completion of suppression repair activities on the McCauley Springs Fire. Southwest Area Team 3 is preparing to transition command of the fire area back to a local organization. Resources will remain in place and available to respond to any new starts throughout the holiday. This will be the last update from Southwest Complex Incident Management Team 3. Unless there is any significant change, there will not be another update until the fire is fully contained. For future information on the McCauley Springs fire, follow the Santa Fe National Forest Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/santafeNF/.

Southwest Complex Incident Management Team 3 would like to extend our appreciation to the communities in the fire area; we are grateful for your support and patience.

Visitors are encouraged to exercise caution when planning their visit over the holiday weekend. Highway 4 has been reopened, but travelers can expect delays due to pilot cars managing traffic flow between mile marker 27 and 33. The pilot car will be released after 8:00 p.m. this evening.

Many areas of Santa Fe National Forest remain closed to visitors, including:

Campgrounds Closed – Jemez Falls Campground, Jemez Falls Picnic Area, Jemez Falls Trailhead, Redondo Campground.

Day Use Sites Closed – Battleship Rock, Rincon, Spence Hot Springs, Dark Canyon. La Cueva Picnic, San Diego Overlook, East Fork Trailhead, and Las Conchas.

Operations: Crews finished grading rehabilitation on Forest Roads 10, 134, and 135 yesterday. Today, repair of hand line along the East Fork Trail on the east side of the fire is expected to be completed, along with bulldozer line on the south side of the fire. Three engines and one hand crew will remain to continue any remaining mop-up and repair after the incident management team demobilizes.

Fire Restrictions: Statewide fire restrictions are in effect. Campfires, fireworks, smoking, open burning, and oil and gas flaring are banned on all non-municipal, non-federal and non-Tribal lands.  We need everyone to reduce that risk by taking extra precautions and taking them seriously. Our wildland firefighters are working tirelessly to respond to wildfires, and the public has a crucial role to play in preventing catastrophic fires before they start. For more information, visit https://www.emnrd.nm.gov/sfd/find-current-fire-restrictions/

In addition, the entirety of the Santa Fe National Forest remains in Stage II fire restrictions. No campfires, charcoal, coal, or wood stove fires are allowed on the Santa Fe National Forest. Fireworks are always prohibited on public lands. The Village of Jemez Springs adheres to the Santa Fe National Forest Fire Restrictions. This also include prohibitions on Fireworks within the Village limits.

Weather: Today will be partly sunny, with highs near 88°F. Calm winds will become west at around 5mph.

Closures: The closure of the fire area remains in effect. The full closure can be viewed at https://www.fs.usda.gov/r03/santafe/alerts.Safety: No drones or aircraft are allowed to fly in the area. If you fly, they can’t.