Rain tamped down much of the behavior on the Mestenas Canyon Fire, where the perimeter has grown to 477 acres with 15% containment. Steep terrain and outflow winds from nearby thunderstorms are driving the fire’s spread on its north and east sides. To contain the fire, crews are nearby using indirect methods by reducing fuels […]

Crews continue to work the Mestenas Canyon Fire, which has grown to 350 acres with 0% containment. Outflow winds from nearby storms pushed two heads of the fire up canyon slopes onto Mestenas Mesa where crews are securing roads as potential containment lines. The overall suppression strategy is to contain the fire using existing roads […]

Final Regular Update  With the Yeso Fire spread throughout the predetermined confinement area, Carson National Forest fire crews today are continuing to focus on securing the fire’s edge.   Yesterday, crews evaluated interior portions and physically walked the boundary of the predetermined area with a GPS unit. Now with better mapping, the predetermined area—and the […]

Crews remain on scene of the Mestenas Canyon Fire. The fire is currently estimated at 70 acres with no containment. There is potential for smoke impacts on Highway 64 and surrounding areas. The fire’s origin point is deep in a canyon surrounded by rocky cliff bands and numerous snags. For firefighter safety, crews are monitoring […]

After a successful day of operations on the Yeso Fire’s edge, Carson National Forest fire crews will today evaluate interior areas, chip fuels along roads and may conduct limited firing operations if needed. The fire stands at 300 acres with no containment.  Crews yesterday completed blackline around the entire fire’s perimeter. Blacklining is pre-burning fuels […]

Smoke is expected to be more visible today Carson National Forest fire crews are planning to begin firing operations on the 165-acre Yeso Fire today, ahead of significant precipitation forecasted this week. They will fire off roads to fill in a 600-acre predetermined area, which is largely surrounded by existing roads.  “This is our big day of […]

Carson National Forest and Rio Fernando Volunteer Fire Department fire crews tonight contained the Baca Fire, northeast of Valle Econdido, N.M., on the Camino Real Ranger District. The lightning-caused a spot fire burned two trees to the north of Highway 64. 

Carson National Forest fire crews are on scene of the Mestenas Canyon Fire, about 10 miles southwest of Dulce, N.M., on the Jicarilla Ranger District. It’s located about two miles north of Highway 64 in Mestenas Canyon. The lightning-caused fire is estimated to be 10 to 15 acres with no containment. Due to safety concerns, […]

Fire will play its natural role in the forest before crews contain it Carson National Forest fire managers will move forward with a strategy to indirectly suppress the naturally caused Yeso Fire. For fire crew safety, they plan to contain it primarily within existing roads. “After reviewing all the data, I believe this is the […]

Carson National Forest fire crews are monitoring two lightning-caused fires to the south of Canjilon, N.M. The Yeso and Mesa del Medio fires are burning just outside the Canjilon Wildland Urban Interface Project, where the Forest Service, partners and landowners have been thinning and applying prescribed fire for over a decade.  The two fires are […]

Fire crews overnight fully contained the approximately 11-acre Terrero Fire, which was caused by lightning. Today, they will begin to mop-up interior portions around the edges. Smoke is expected to be visible for a few days. Six engine crews from Carson National Forest and New Mexico Forestry Division will be joined by the Carson Hotshots […]

Carson National Forest and New Mexico Forestry Division fire crews are on scene of a wildfire northeast of Cebolla, N.M. The Terrero Fire is estimated at 10 acres, with no containment, and is creeping in the forest understory. Six engines and a helicopter with water dropping capabilities are assigned, with a crew on order. There […]

Operations Will Cross the Colorado-New Mexico Border Carson National Forest crews will assist on the project, which includes 192 acres on the New Mexico side of the state line. With favorable conditions in the forecast, Rio Grande National Forest fire crews have begun preparing for the 1,000-acre Bighorn/Stateline prescribed fire project located approximately six miles […]

Fire crews are back on the Esquibel Prescribed Fire for their last day of ignitions. They will focus on using fire to clean-up fuels on the unit’s boundary while interior areas continue to burn. This will be the last daily operational update for the project, but crews will continue to patrol and monitor the unit […]

On Wednesday, fire crews had another successful day on the Esquibel Prescribed Fire, treating 1,200 acres. They are back this morning to continue ignitions. 5 to 10 mph winds are expected today, according to the latest National Weather Service spot forecast. Fire managers are also using a portable remote automatic weather station, as well as […]

After a successful shift on Tuesday, fire crews this morning began a third day of ignitions on the Esquibel Prescribed Fire. The most current National Weather Service spot forecast for the area estimates winds of 5 to 10 mph. Fire managers are using a portable remote automatic weather station, as well as two permanent stations […]

Fire crews this morning began a second day of ignitions on the Esquibel Prescribed Fire to the north of Tres Piedras, N.M. The latest National Weather Service spot forecast calls for 4 to 8 mph winds throughout the day, with isolated precipitation in the area. Fire managers are using a portable remote automatic weather station […]

For the Record: An earlier version of this news release stated ignitions could begin as early as May 26. The correct date is May 27. We regret the error. Working with a meteorologist, Carson National Forest fire managers are looking for opportunities to begin the Esquibel Prescribed Fire to the north of Tres Piedras, N.M. […]

Canjilon, N.M., May 19, 2024 — Fire officials carefully considered the forecasted weather, fuel conditions, and resource availability when deciding to proceed with the Montoya Prescribed Fire that lies within the Canjilon Wildland Urban Interface Project. On May 17th, firefighters began ignitions of the 899-acre prosed unit and had 835-acres successfully completed the following day. […]

Canjilon, N.M., May 18, 2024 @ 7 p.m. — After 2 days of successful firing operations, fire officials have determined there is no need to continue with hand and aerial ignitions on the Montoya Prescribed Fire. Firefighters completed 835-acres of the proposed total 899-acre unit within the Canjilon Wildland Urban Interface Project. Today, they focused […]