TAOS, N.M., Aug. 10, 2023 – Despite sunny, warm conditions over the fire area, the American Mesa Fire continues to hold at 756 acres and is 35% contained. The wildfire is 15 miles southwest of Dulce. “We received some isolated torching of juniper trees,” said Operations Planning Chief Jay Bertek on August 9, “But nothing […]

A Type 3 Incident Management Team, Nevada Team 2, took command of the fire at 6:00 a.m. on August 8. Fire crews have made excellent progress in holding the fire at 756 acres, with 25% containment. “We received an outstanding hand off from Carson National Forest Operations,” said Incident Commander Brian Kitchen, “We want to […]

Firefighters are responding to a new wildfire on the Tres Piedras District to the west zone of the Carson National Forest. The Broke Off Fire is estimated at five acres and the cause is yet to be determined. The fire is located around Broke Off Mountain and Cisneros Springs. Vegetation in the fire area is grass, […]

Despite critical fire weather conditions, crews on the ground and in the air kept growth of the American Mesa Fire at a minimum. The fire is currently 756 acres with 25% containment.  “This fire really wanted to move,” said Jicarilla Ranger District Duty Officer Brent Woffindin. “But our crews worked hard to keep it at […]

Crews are continuing to work the 450-acre American Mesa Fire today by securing the fire’s edge and patrolling for hotspots outside containment lines. Containment remains at 8%. Air resources are expected to be available to assist later today. We are planning to transition management of fire to a Type 3 Incident Management Team this evening. […]

Fire crews and air resources assigned to the American Mesa Fire made initial progress by increasing containment to 8% from 0% today. The fire, which is moving eastward, grew 50 acres from 400. It is located about 16 miles southwest of Dulce, N.M., on the Jicarilla Ranger District.  Numerous air tankers and helicopters worked the fire, […]

With the wildfires come smoke. Strengthening wind is currently pushing smoke from the American Mesa Fire to the east, which may affect areas along the New Mexico-Colorado border and as far south as Dulce, Chama, Tres Piedras and Questa. Other fires are contributing, too: the Lake Fire near Navajo Lake, the Dry Fire on the […]

The latest information on the American Mesa Fire: 400 acres and 0% contained Ordered resources are beginning to arrive this morning. Overall, they include two handcrews, one hotshot crew and one engine. Already on scene are two engines, one handcrew and two helicopters. The priority is always firefighter and public safety while engaging on today’s […]

Carson National Forest fire personnel, with the assistance of a large air tanker, are on scene of the 200-acre American Mesa Fire on the Jicarilla Ranger District, about 16 miles southeast of Arboles, CO. The lightning-caused fire is burning in piñon-juniper habitat. The fire is threatening natural gas infrastructure and is about four miles from […]

Fire crews fully contained the Sierra (pictured) and Cedar Rock fires yesterday. They were the last of 10 lightning-caused fires over the past two weeks to be 100% contained. A full list of recent fires is available on the Carson National Forest website.

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 […]