Mountainair Ranger District ALBUQUERQUE, NM – October 15, 2025 – The Cibola National Forest & National Grasslands (NF & NGs) fire crews have successfully completed ignitions today on 77 acres of unit 1 of the Pueblo Colorado Prescribed (Rx) Fire Piles within the Mountainair Ranger District. Crews will patrol and monitor the pile fires until […]

Favorable weather conditions in place for hazardous fuels reduction work ALBUQUERQUE, NM – October 10, 2025 – The Cibola National Forest & National Grasslands (NF & NGs) is planning prescribed fire pile burn operations Wednesday October 15th pending all required approvals. This work will continue as a multi-day operation as weather conditions allow. We use […]

Favorable weather conditions must be in place for hazardous fuels reduction work ALBUQUERQUE, NM – Sept. 26, 2025 – The Cibola National Forest and National Grasslands are planning prescribed fire operations this fall, as early as September 30th through December, pending all required approvals.See attached map. We estimate this work to continue through the fall […]

Trail Fire – Zuni Mountains Reported start date / time: September 14, 2025 / 1400 Cause: Undetermined, but lightning was detected in the area. Size: 5 acres Location: Mt. Taylor Ranger District – Zuni Mountains northwest of Quartz Hill. Resources on Scene: Firefighters from USFS and NM State Forestry. Strategy: Full suppression Fire behavior: Low […]

Mt. Taylor Ranger District – Cibola National Forest & National Grasslands ALBUQUERQUE, NM – September 4, 2025 – The Vereda Blanca Fire operations transitioned to a Type 4 management team at the Mt. Taylor Ranger District on Friday afternoon (08/29/2025). Minimal heat remains within the containment lines and Cibola National Forest fire crews will continue […]

Mt. Taylor Ranger District Vereda Blanca Fire Operations: After several significant rain events, fire behavior has transitioned to minimal smoldering. The fire will be patrolled and monitored until no hot spots or smoke are detected. Restoration plans are being developed and will soon be implemented in the burn scar area. As of 6:00pm tomorrow the […]

Mt. Taylor Ranger District Vereda Blanca Fire Operations: Chipping operations continue along the northern and southern line of the fire. An engine and a hand crew conduct mop up where hot spots have been identified. Along the north section mastication is nearing completion. All crews are monitoring for hot spots and treating anything posing a […]

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 […]