Magdalena Ranger District – Cibola National Forest & National Grasslands Successful Ignitions Lead to the Reduction of Hazardous Fuels ALBUQUERQUE, NM – September 25, 2026 – The Cibola National Forest & National Grasslands (NF & NGs) has finished ignitions on 390 acres of the Hop Patterson Pile Burns, successfully reducing hazardous fuels within the project […]

Effective Friday, September 25 (Albuquerque, NM, September 25, 2026) – Due to weather patterns and increased moisture, fire officials on the Cibola National Forest are lifting fire restrictions for the Kiowa and Rita-Blanca National Grasslands effective Friday, September 25, 2026 at 8:00 a.m.  Fire restrictions are implemented to reduce the risk of human-caused wildfires during […]

Favorable weather conditions must be in place for hazardous fuels reduction work ALBUQUERQUE, NM – September 24, 2026 – The Cibola National Forest and National Grasslands is planning prescribed fires for this fall into winter as conditions allow. Certified prescribed fire specialists use prescribed fires to help remove excess vegetation, reduce wildfire risk, improve habitat, […]

Reported: August 21, 202Cause: Lightning Location: 15 Miles NW of Mountainair, NMSize: 542 acres Fuels: Mixed coniferContainment: 52% Fire Behavior: Minimal Operations: Yesterday, crews conducted suppression repair, chipping, and restoration work on trails, roads, and other areas impacted by fire operations. The type 3 Incident Management Team will transfer command of the incident to a […]

Reported: August 21, 202Cause: Lightning Location: 15 Miles NW of Mountainair, NMSize: 542 acres Fuels: Mixed coniferContainment: 48% Fire Behavior: Minimal Operations: Yesterday, the fire area received 8/10 of an inch of rain, so crews were able to start engaging in suppression repair activities, chipping operations, and begin to return the forest to what it […]

Reported: August 21, 2026 Cause: Lightning                                         Location: 15 Miles NW of Mountainair, NM Size: 542 acres                                             Fuels: Mixed conifer Containment: 48%                                      Fire Behavior: Moderate Operations: Yesterday, the crews focused on mop-up procedures, suppression repair, and improving contingency lines and indirect lines. They also gained further containment on the fire line and continued to put direct […]

Mountainair Ranger District September 14, 2026 Reported: August 21, 2026Cause: Lightning Location: 15 Miles NW of Mountainair, NMSize: 459 acres Fuels: Mixed coniferContainment: 42% Fire Behavior: Moderate Operations: Firefighter and public safety remain the highest priorities. Firefighters implement a full suppression strategy using a combination of direct and indirect tactics. Focus suppression efforts on actions […]

Manzano Mountain Wilderness – Mountainair Ranger District Albuquerque, NM – September 11, 2026 — With hot and dry weather continuing into the weekend, resources remain actively engaged on suppression efforts on the Whiskey Fire within the Manzano Mountain Wilderness of the Mountainair Ranger District. Safety: The health and safety of firefighters and the public are […]

Manzano Mountain Wilderness – Mountainair Ranger District Albuquerque, NM – September 9, 2026 — Resources are actively engaged on suppression efforts for the Whiskey Fire within the Manzano Mountain Wilderness of the Mountainair Ranger District. Safety: The health and safety of firefighters and the public are always the first priority. In order to facilitate safe […]

Contacto de Prensa: Kaleb Hoeft | kaleb_hoeft@firenet.gov | O: 505-546-9429 Mountainair, NM – 7 de septiembre 2026 – El Incendio Whiskey ha alcanzado un punto en el que las condiciones actuales del incendio y las labores de supresión completadas permiten que el Equipo de Manejo de Incidentes Tipo 3 transfiera nuevamente el mando del incidente […]

Media Contact: Kaleb Hoeft | kaleb_hoeft@firenet.gov | 505-546-9429 http://www.fs.usda.gov/r03/cibola Update onWhiskey Fire-Mountainair, NM Mountainair, NM – September 07, 2026 – The Whiskey Fire has reached a point where current fire conditions and completed suppression work allow the Type 3 Incident Management Team to return command of the incident to the Cibola National Forest. The Mountainair […]

Media Contact: Kaleb Hoeft | kaleb_hoeft@firenet.gov | Cell: 505-546-9429 Mountainair, NM – September 03, 2026 – A brief increase in fire activity occurred within the interior of the Whiskey Fire early this afternoon as flames moved through a stand of trees, producing a visible column of smoke. The activity was short-lived and quickly subsided, with […]

Media Contact: Kaleb Hoeft | kaleb_hoeft@firenet.gov | Cell: 505-546-9429 Mountainair, NM – September 02, 2026 – Fire activity has remained low following Monday’s precipitation, with infrared reconnaissance detecting only a few scattered interior hotspots. Remaining activity is primarily limited to isolated pockets of smoldering heavy dead and down fuels within the fire perimeter, with little […]

Media Contact: Kaleb Hoeft | kaleb_hoeft@firenet.gov | Cell: 505-546-9429www.fs.usda.gov/r03/cibola Substantial precipitation over the fire aids crews in firefighting efforts. Mountainair, NM – September 01, 2026 – The Whiskey Fire received approximately three-quarters of an inch of rain Monday evening and overnight, significantly reducing fire activity across the incident. The precipitation dampened fuels and strengthened previously […]

Media Contact: Kaleb Hoeft | kaleb.hoeft@firenet.gov | 505-546-9429 Helicopter conducts water drops on fire in coordination with ground crews. Mountainair, NM – August 30, 2026 — A Type 1 helicopter supported firefighters throughout the day, concentrating water drops on the portion of the Whiskey Fire that crossed the ridgeline into New Canyon. Working in coordination […]

Media Contact: Kaleb Hoeft | kaleb_hoeft@firenet.gov | 505-546-9429 Crews go direct in New Canyon and a type 1 helicopter conducts water drops Mountainair, NM – August 30, 2026 — Crews continue to make progress on contingency preparations around the Whiskey Fire. West-side crews completed brushing along the Comanche Trail and secured the trailhead while crews […]

Manzano Mountains – Mountainair Ranger District Mountainair, NM – August 29, 2026 — Crews are conducting scouting operations and constructing indirect fire line on both the east and west sides of the fire. The Incident Commander and operations personnel are conducting reconnaissance flights to assess fire size, movement, and behavior as it progresses through rugged […]

Manzano Mountains – Mountainair Ranger District Mountainair, NM – August 28, 2026 — More resources have arrived and are actively engaged on suppression efforts for three wildfires burning within the Manzano Mountains of the Mountainair Ranger District. This will be the final update for the Blanco and Cerro Fires unless changing conditions warrant additional information. […]

Manzano Mountains – Mountainair Ranger District Albuquerque, NM – August 27, 2026 — Resources are actively engaged on suppression efforts for three wildfires burning within the Manzano Mountains of the Mountainair Ranger District. Safety: The health and safety of firefighters and the public are always the first priority. In order to facilitate safe and efficient […]

on Kiowa and Rita-Blanca, Mountainair and Sandia Ranger Districts (Albuquerque, NM – August 27, 2026) — The Cibola National Forest & National Grasslands extends the effective dates of Stage I Fire Restrictions currently on the Kiowa and Rita-Blanca National Grasslands, Mountainair and Sandia Ranger Districts.See attached maps. Stage I Fire Restriction dates have been extended […]