Mt. Taylor Ranger District Vereda Blanca Fire Operations: Crews near the completion of mastication and chipping work on the north and east perimeter and will improve dozer line with further mastication. Pockets of interior fuels continue to burn and may be visible. Contained edge to the west and south are being monitored for any spotting. […]

Mt. Taylor Ranger District Vereda Blanca Fire Operations: Masticators are operating on the perimeter of the fire. Cutting through ponderosa and pinyon slash north of Canyon Salado. Crews are chipping ponderosa and pinyon cuttings northwest of Guadalupe Canyon while monitoring pockets of heat in the canyon that do not pose a risk to the line. […]

Mt. Taylor Ranger District Vereda Blanca Fire Operations: No significant changes in fire behavior have been observed in the past few days. Crews worked to hold the fire edges and continue to scout for spotting. Small amounts of rainfall have been aiding in the suppression efforts. Fire behavior can be categorized as backing and creeping […]

Mt. Taylor Ranger District Vereda Blanca Fire Operations: Crews worked to hold the fire edges and continue to scout for spotting. Rainfall during the afternoon aided in the suppression efforts. Fire behavior can be categorized as backing and creeping with isolated torching. Looking forward, four aviation dip tanks will be utilized to support suppression. Vereda […]

Mt. Taylor Ranger District Vereda Blanca Fire Operations: The fire traveled off the top of the mesa and is creeping into steep terrain. Personnel safety in challenging terrain continues to be a priority. Crews contained spotting along the East side of the fire and continued working along FS 194. Retardant was deployed on the fire […]

Mt. Taylor Ranger District Reported start date / time: August 8, 2025 / 0731Cause: Undetermined. Location of fire start was in a remote area.Size: 1,000 acres.         Containment: 0%                    Strategy: Full suppression.Location: Northeast Mt Taylor Ranger District near Black Mesa and northeast of Grants, NM. See attached map.Fire Behavior: Moderate. Operations: Yesterday’s continued hot dry conditions […]

Mt. Taylor Ranger District – Cibola National Forest & National Grasslands Reported start date / time: August 8, 2025 / 0731Cause: Undetermined.Size: 300 acres.Containment: 0%Strategy: Full suppression.Location: Northeast Mt Taylor Ranger District near Black Mesa and northeast of Grants, NM.Fire Behavior: Moderate.Responding Resources: As of mid-day Saturday Aug 9, multiple firefighting resources on scene with […]

Vereda Blanca Wildfire Reported start date / time: August 8, 2025 / 0731Cause: Undetermined.       Size: 150 acres.Location: Northeast Mt Taylor Ranger District near Black Mesa and northeast of Grants, NM.Smoke may be visible west in the surrounding area of the Santa Fe, Cuba and Jemez.  Responding Resources: USFS.Fire Behavior: Moderate fire behavior driven by southwesterly winds.Strategy: […]

ALBUQUERQUE, NM – July 31, 2025 – The Cibola National Forest & National Grasslands (NF & NGs) has lifted Stage 1 Fire Restrictions effective Friday, August 1, 2025 on the Mt. Taylor and Magdalena Ranger Districts. This decision follows careful monitoring of fuel moisture, weather patterns, and fire activity. Forest visitors are reminded that the […]

Effective Monday July 21st Termination of Stage 1 Fire Restriction Order Number: 03-03-00-25-12 ALBUQUERQUE, NM – July 21, 2025 – The Cibola National Forest & National Grasslands (NF & NGs) has lifted Stage 1 Fire Restrictions effective Monday July 21, 2025, on the Mountainair and Sandia Ranger Districts. This decision follows careful monitoring of fuel […]

The Cibola National Forest and Grasslands, in its ongoing effort to protect lives and property, has deployed a 13-person federal and state, multi-agency National Fire Prevention Education Team (NFPET). The Fire Prevention Education Team’s purpose is to reinforce local wildfire prevention resources and to bring special wildfire prevention planning, logistics, and operations expertise to complex […]

Termination of Stage 2 Fire Restriction Order Number: 03-03-00-25-07 effective June 18, 2025 Implementation of Stage 1 Fire Restriction Order Number: 03-03-00-25-12 effective June 18, 2025 With increased live fuel moisture levels and green up, the Cibola NF & NGs leadership has lowered previously implemented Stage 2 fire restrictions to Stage 1 fire restrictions on […]

Zuni Mountains, New Mexico Albuquerque, NM – May 25, 2025: On May 23rd multiple resources responded to a fire start on private lands south of NM I-40, West of Grants, NM since named the Merrill Fire. The origin of the fire was on private lands crossing into adjacent Forest Service lands of the Mt Taylor […]

Zuni Mountains, New Mexico Albuquerque, NM – May 24, 2025: Yesterday evening, multiple resources responded to a fire start on private lands south of NM I-40, West of Grants, NM since named the Merrill Fire. The origin of the fire was on private lands crossing into adjacent Forest Service lands of the Mt Taylor Ranger […]

ALBUQUERQUE, NM – May 19, 2025 – The Cibola National Forest and National Grasslands will implement Stage 1 Fire Restrictions on all National Forest System (NFS) lands in the Magdalena Ranger District as described per order 03-03-03-25-08 and as shown on the attached map. This Order shall be in effect from Thursday May 22, 2025 […]

ALBUQUERQUE, NM – May 19, 2025 The Cibola National Forest and National Grasslands will implement Stage 2 Fire Restrictions on the Mountainair and Sandia Ranger Districts located within the State of New Mexico as described per order 03-03-00-25-07 and as shown on the attached maps. This Order will be in effect on May 22, 2025, […]

The fire danger rating for the Sandia Ranger District has been updated to HIGH. Fire Danger Status on the districts of the Cibola National Forest & National Grasslands:Black Kettle Ranger District: ModerateKiowa and Rita Blanca Ranger District: ModerateMagdalena Ranger District: HIGHMount Taylor Ranger District: HIGH (Stage 1 Fire Restriction Implement 4/18/2025 on Mt Taylor RD)Sandia […]

The fire danger rating for the Mountainair Ranger District has been updated to HIGH. Fire Danger Ratings for Districts of the Cibola National Forest & National Grasslands:Black Kettle Ranger District: ModerateKiowa and Rita Blanca Ranger District: ModerateMagdalena Ranger District: HIGHMount Taylor Ranger District: HIGH (Stage 1 Fire Restriction Implement 4/18/2025 on Mt Taylor RD)Sandia Ranger […]

Effective Friday April 18, 2025 ALBUQUERQUE, NM – April 17, 2025 – The Cibola National Forest and National Grasslands will implement Stage 1 Fire Restrictions on all National Forest System (NFS) lands in the Mt. Taylor Ranger District as described per order 03-03-02-25-05 and as shown on the attached map. This Order shall be in […]

Fire Danger Ratings for Districts on the Cibola National Forest & National Grasslands as of April 16, 2025:Black Kettle Ranger District: ModerateKiowa and Rita Blanca Ranger District: ModerateMagdalena Ranger District: HIGHMount Taylor Ranger District: HIGH (Rating Update)Sandia Ranger District: ModerateMountainair Ranger District: Moderate The Fire Danger Rating is calculated by measuring the dryness of wood, […]