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, […]

The fire danger rating for the Magdalena Ranger District has been updated to HIGH. Black Kettle Ranger District: ModerateKiowa and Rita Blanca Ranger District: ModerateMagdalena Ranger District: HIGH (Rating Update)Mount Taylor Ranger District: ModerateSandia Ranger District: ModerateMountainair Ranger District: Moderate The Fire Danger Rating is calculated by measuring the dryness of wood, grass and other […]

Ox and Rona Fires 100% Contained March 20, 2025 UPDATE Name: Ox Fire Reported start date / time:    March 18, 2025 / 1600              Cause: Undetermined.Size: 4.3 acres           Containment: 100% Location: Manzano Mountains south of Ox Canyon on the Mountainair Ranger District – New Mexico – Cibola National Forest & National Grasslands. Approximately 5 miles […]

Firefighters Respond to Ox Fire & Rona Fire March 19, 2025 UPDATE Name: Ox FireReported start date / time:    March 18, 2025 / 1600              Cause: Undetermined.Size: 4.3 acres           Containment: 30%Location: Manzano Mountains south of Ox Canyon on the Mountainair Ranger District – New Mexico – Cibola National Forest & National Grasslands. Approximately 5 miles […]

Davenport Springs Fire – Datil Mountains – New Mexico ALBUQUERQUE, NM, March 11, 2025 – Yesterday fire crews responded to a smoke report in the Datil Mountains on the Magdalena Ranger District of the Cibola National Forest & National Grasslands in New Mexico. The fire was creeping in dense vegetation carried by dead & down […]

February 24, 2025 UPDATE Public Safety Notice Kiowa and Rita Blanca National Grasslands Prescribed (Rx) Fire OperationsCibola National Forest & National Grasslands Today, Rx fire ignitions have been completed on 342 acres of unit K-53N on the Kiowa and Rita Blanca National Grasslands within Union County NM. With today’s Rx fire on unit K-53N and […]

February 23, 2025 UPDATE Public Safety Notice Ignitions have been completed for today on 955 acres of Prescribed Fire on unit K-47N of the Kiowa and Rita Blanca National Grasslands within Union County NM. Pending favorable conditions tomorrow February 24, fire managers on the Cibola National Forest & National Grasslands (NF & NGs) may continue […]

Public Safety Notice – Starting as early as February 23 ALBUQUERQUE, NM – February 20, 2025 – Pending favorable conditions, fire managers on the Cibola National Forest & National Grasslands (NF & NGs) may implement the previously announced  prescribed fires to reduce hazardous fuels within two units of the Kiowa and Rita Blanca NGs starting […]