Carson National Forest and New Mexico Forestry Division crews responded to the Sierra Fire in El Rito Canyon, north of El Rito, NM, today. The 3/4-acre fire is 50% contained. It was caused by lightning on private land and spread onto national forest. It is creeping in mixed conifer understory. Over on the Jicarilla Ranger […]

Carson National Forest crews continued to respond to lightning-caused fires across the forest today. There’s been three new starts, all which have been fully contained, since last night’s update. Two of the new starts are on the Jicarilla Ranger District and another is northwest of Tres Piedras, NM. At this time, the forest’s fire management […]

Carson National Forest fire crews are on scene of the Cedar Rock Fire on the Jicarilla Ranger District. The estimated 4- to 5-acre lightning-caused fire is located north of Forest Road 218 (Carracas Mesa Road), which is approximately 10 miles southeast of Arboles, CO, and 50 miles east of Farmington, NM (Google Map). Crews and […]

Fire crews are on scene of two new lightning-caused fire starts: The 3-acre Manuel Canyon Fire (pictured) is located off Forest Road 312L (Manuel Tank Road) on the Jicarilla Ranger District, about 50 miles east of Farmington, NM. The 0.5-acre Canjilon Lake Fire is near Lower Canjilon Lakes. It’s burning surface fuels with low to […]

Fire crews have increased containment on the 1.5-acre Medio Fire to 30%. It is currently smoldering in ground fuels under ponderosa overstory. The lightning-caused fire is located southwest of Vallecitos, NM (Rio Arriba County) and was first reported on Jul. 30. There are no imminent threats to life or property. Approximate Location (Google Maps)

Carson National Forest fire crews are on scene of a lighting-caused fire west of Vallecitos, NM, in Rio Arriba County. The Medio Fire is over an acre with light to moderate rate of spread in ground fuels with occasional tree torching. Crews are using a suppression strategy due to fuel conditions, weather and availability of […]

Fire crews have contained, controlled and, as of this afternoon, declared the Bull Fire as out. The 0.10-acre lightning-caused fire, first reported on Jul. 22, was upslope from the intersection of the Lake Fork and Bull Creek trails in the Latir Peak Wilderness. The fire smoldered in surface fuels under spruce-fir. Rock scree and high moisture in surrounding […]

Carson National Forest fire crews fully contained the lightning-caused Ancones Fire today. It was one-tenth of an acre. Crews will continue to patrol and monitor the fire until it is called out. The fire was first reported northwest of Lamadera, NM, around 4:30 p.m. on Jul 26. Crews moved forward with a suppression strategy due […]

Carson National Forest fire crews responded to a report of light smoke northwest of Lamadera, NM, around 4:30 p.m. today. The fire, called the Ancones Fire, was caused by lightning. Crews are currently monitoring the fire and tomorrow will begin suppression efforts, a response that is informed by current weather, fuel conditions and availability of […]

Carson National Forest fire crews are monitoring a wildfire upslope from the intersection of the Lake Fork and Bull Creek trails in the Latir Peak Wilderness and northeast of Cabresto Lake. The 0.10-acre Bull Fire was caused by lightning and is smoldering in surface fuels under spruce-fir. Rock scree and high moisture in surrounding vegetation are […]

As hot and dry weather persists, Carson National Forest fire crews are patrolling and monitoring two fires daily. The Comanche Fire and Dorado/Cañada del Agua Prescribed Fire currently have minimal fire behavior, with flames smoldering and creeping within interior pockets of unburned fuel.   “We will consider next steps once each burn area receives significant […]

Upcoming Actions: There is minimal fire activity today with some creeping and smoldering. Crews are working to mop up the western edge, cooling any hotspots. Suppression repair and rehabilitation continues as crews work to reduce erosion, reseed where needed, fix fences and close dozer lines. With fire activity decreasing, management of the fire will be […]

Upcoming Actions: Fire crews are working with resource advisers to rehabilitate areas affected by fire management activity. Crews are focused on suppression repair work, including reseeding, fixing fences, installing erosion control features and closing dozer lines. Fire activity has reduced significantly, and crews continue to patrol by gridding for hotspots and cooling them for further […]

Upcoming Actions: Fire activity on the eastern flank of the fire has reduced significantly. Crews patrol the fire, gridding for hotspots and cooling them to further control the fire. Most of the fire activity remains on the western flank where crews are working through rugged and steep terrain to strengthen control lines. Crew members are working […]

Upcoming Actions: Red flag conditions, with very dry and breezy to windy conditions, are forecasted today. Fire crews continue to hold and patrol the fire line, gridding for potential spot fires. Suppression tactics have reduced fire activity, and crews will continue to improve containment lines, working in steep and rugged terrain. Suppression activities are concentrated on […]

Upcoming Actions: Every fire receives a strategic, risk-based response, and as conditions change, so do management actions. With weather over the next few days forecasted to be less than favorable for the Comanche Fire to fulfill its ecological role, fire managers have decided to limit further growth and take suppression actions. On Saturday, air tankers and […]

Upcoming Actions: Fire crews worked hard to successfully hold the Comanche Fire within its containment lines on Friday despite Red Flag conditions. This was possible due to the extensive planning and tactics implemented during the previous days. Increased smoke was due to interior burning. Fire managers continue to assess and plan for various scenarios in […]

Upcoming Actions: Yesterday’s operations were successful as fire crews continued to create depth in the containment lines on the east perimeter of the Comanche Fire focus area. With information from a meteorologist and other specialists, fire managers are halting firing operations today due to Red Flag conditions and forecasted west winds. Crews will focus on […]

Expected break in winds not developing  Despite favorable vegetation and fuels conditions, fire managers have decided to postpone the planned collaborative prescribed fire across the New Mexico-Colorado border. Fire personnel have determined that an anticipated break in the windy weather pattern is not going to develop in time to meet project objectives. Forecast windspeeds will […]

Upcoming Actions: Fire crews will continue hand ignitions along the perimeter edge, continuing work from yesterday where the northwest and eastern perimeters were blacklined. These actions help create depth on the containment line to keep the fire within the focus area. A meteorologist and other specialists are assigned to the incident to directly advising incident […]