Mountainair Ranger District – Cibola National Forest & National Grasslands ALBUQUERQUE, NM – November 6, 2026 – This week, Cibola National Forest & National Grasslands (NF & NGs) fire crews successfully completed ignitions on an additional 190 acres of piles within unit 3 of Pueblo Colorado on the Mountainair Ranger District. With last week’s 211 […]

As early as November 4, Ignitions to begin on approximately 180 acres within unit 3 Recent moisture creates favorable conditions for hazardous fuels reduction work ALBUQUERQUE, NM – November 3, 2026 – With recent rain events on the Mountainair Ranger District, the Cibola National Forest & National Grasslands (NF & NGs) will continue with prescribed […]

Mountainair Ranger District ALBUQUERQUE, NM – October 30, 2026 – Cibola National Forest & National Grasslands (NF & NGs) fire crews successfully completed ignitions on 211 acres of piles on Mountainair Ranger District’s Pueblo Colorado Unit 2. Fire crews continue with mop-up using hand tools to turn over smoldering embers to secure hot spots until […]

Sandia Ranger District ALBUQUERQUE, NM – October 29, 2026 – Cibola National Forest & National Grasslands (NF & NGs) fire crews have successfully completed ignitions on 15 acres of the Cedro unit piles on the Sandia Ranger District. Fire crews remain on scene to continue with mop-up using hand tools to turn over smoldering embers […]

Recent moisture creates favorable conditions for hazardous fuels reduction work ALBUQUERQUE, NM – October 28, 2026 – The Cibola National Forest & National Grasslands (NF & NGs) begins ignitions on the previously announced prescribed (Rx) fire pile burning on the Mountainair Ranger District’s Pueblo Colorado today (Wednesday October 28). Forest Service officials estimate this project […]

Mountainair Ranger District ALBUQUERQUE, NM – October 26, 2026 – The Cibola National Forest & National Grasslands (NF & NGs) is planning prescribed (Rx) fire pile burning on Pueblo Colorado unit as early as Wednesday October 28 on the Mountainair Ranger District. Forest Service officials estimate this project may continue as multi-day operation, as conditions […]

Sandia Ranger District ALBUQUERQUE, NM – October 26, 2026 – The Cibola National Forest & National Grasslands (NF & NGs) fire managers plan to begin prescribed (Rx) fire ignitions tomorrow (Oct. 27) on the previously announced Sandia Ranger District – Cedro Unit Piles. Officials expect the project to be a one-day operation, as conditions allow. […]

Cedro Unit Piles – Sandia Ranger District ALBUQUERQUE, NM – October 22, 2026 – The Cibola National Forest & National Grasslands (NF & NGs) plans to burn piles on 15 acres within the Cedro unit as early as Tuesday October 27. Officials expect the project to be a one-day operation, as conditions allow. Fire managers […]

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 […]