New Report and Update on Wildfires on the Cibola National Forest

Sandia Ranger District – Coyote Fire
Mountainair Ranger District – Sand Springs Fire

Albuquerque, NM – August 9, 2026 — Fire resources continue to actively engage in suppression efforts on wildfires within the Cibola National Forest that resulted from lightning strikes.

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

Sandia Ranger District – Cedro Area: Coyote Fire (New Report)
Reported Date / Time: August 8, 2026 / 1800.                
Cause: Lightning                        Size: 1/10 acre                  Containment: 100%
Location: North of FS462, south of I-40 and east of 337 within the Cedro area of the Sandia Ranger District of the Cibola National Forest.
Responding Resources: U.S. Forest Service and Bernalillo County Fire. 
Fuels: Pinyon-Juniper and Grass.
Operations: Yesterday’s responding crews engaged the active flame to stop forward progression. Today, firefighters continue to secure the perimeter as well as mop-up interior hotspots.
This will be the only report on the Coyote Fire unless conditions or the situation warrants additional information.

Mountainair Ranger District- Manzano Mountain Wilderness: Sand Springs Fire (Update)
Reported Date / Time: July 31, 2026 / 1538. Reported by Capilla Peak Lookout.   
Cause: Lightning                       
Size: 30 acres.
Containment: 50%
Location: Steep terrain north of Osha Peak, south of Capilla Peak and west of the Manzano Crest Trail in the Manzano Mountain Wilderness within the Mountainair Ranger District of the Cibola National Forest.
Resources on scene: U.S. Forest Service Type 1 Hotshot Crew and 1 Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Module. 
Operations: Retardant drops on Friday allowed ground crews to continue to build containment lines around the accessible portions of the fire. Personnel will secure the perimeter by identifying hot spots with UAS infrared detection and remove burnable fuel from fire’s edge.
Fire Behavior: Moderate spread potential.
Fuels: Timber and dead & down.
Values at risk: Currently, the Sand Springs Fire is not a threat to any communities, and there are no evacuations in effect. Communication sites and structures at Capilla Peak are approximately 1.5 miles from fire activity.
Residual Smoke may be visible from Mountainair, Manzano, Punta de Agua, Torreon and westside of Manzano Mountains.

Weather forecast for Albuquerque, NM (August 9, 2026) Today: Sunny and hot, with a high near 100. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light and variable in the afternoon. Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 70. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming southwest after midnight. Monday (August 10, 2026) Sunny and hot, with a high near 101. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm. https://www.weather.gov/