ALBUQUERQUE, NM, July 3, 2024 – During a Monday evening thunderstorm the Mt Withington Lookout Tower reported smoke in the northwest San Mateo Mountains on the Magdalena Ranger District of the Cibola National Forest & National Grasslands. Yesterday, fire crews were unable to access the area due to the remote location and threatening weather conditions. […]

Sandia Ranger District – Sandoval County – New Mexico ALBUQUERQUE, NM, June 29, 2024– Heli-rappel crew has suppressed the fire caused by a Thursday evening lightning strike named the OSHA Fire within the Sandia Mountain Wilderness on the Sandia Ranger District of the Cibola National Forest & National Grasslands. On Friday, Cibola NF&NGs fire management […]

Cibola National Forest & National Grasslands – Sandia Ranger District – Sandoval County – New Mexico ALBUQUERQUE, NM, June 28, 2024 – Fire crews are responding to a lightning fire start within the Sandia Mountain Wilderness on the Sandia Ranger District of the Cibola National Forest & National Grasslands. The fire was first reported yesterday […]

Cibola National Forest & National Grasslands The fire danger rating for four districts on the Cibola National Forest & Grasslands have been lowered from HIGH to Moderate following recent rain activity and current conditions within these district locations. Black Kettle Ranger District: ModerateKiowa and Rita Blanca Ranger District: ModerateMagdalena Ranger District: Moderate (Rating lowered)Mount Taylor […]

ALBUQUERQUE, NM, June 16, 2024 – This will be the final news release on the Mountainair Ranger District Antelope Fire and the Mt. Taylor Ranger District Cottonwood Creek Fire unless conditions warrant additional information. Mountainair Ranger District: Antelope FireReported Date / Time: June 14, 2024 / 1421Cause: LightningSize: 1.5 acres                                              Containment: 100%Location: The fire is […]

ALBUQUERQUE, NM, June 15, 2024 – Yesterday fire crews responded to two wildfires on the Cibola National Forest & National Grasslands. Today crews have reengaged firefighting operations for full suppression. Mountainair Ranger District: Antelope FireReported Date / Time: June 14, 2024 / 1421Cause: Lightning Size: 1.5 acres Containment: 0%Location: The fire is burning off FSR […]

ALBUQUERQUE, NM, June 14, 2024 – Fire crews have responded to two remote area fires on the Cibola National Forest & National Grasslands. Mountainair Ranger District: Antelope FireReported Date / Time: June 14, 2024 / 1421  Cause: Lightning         Size: .5 acres             Containment: 0%Location: The fire is burning off FSR 161 in Pinatosa Canyon within […]

Cibola National Forest & National Grasslands Black Kettle Ranger District: ModerateKiowa and Rita Blanca Ranger District: ModerateMagdalena Ranger District: HIGHMount Taylor Ranger District: HIGHSandia Ranger District: HIGH (Rating Update)Mountainair Ranger District: HIGH The Fire Danger Rating is calculated by measuring the dryness of wood, grass and other combustible material, weather conditions and the terrain. The […]

Cibola National Forest & National Grasslands The fire danger rating for the Mt Taylor and Mountainair Ranger Districts have been increased to HIGH. 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: HIGH (Rating Update) The Fire Danger Rating […]

Cibola National Forest & National Grasslands Fire Danger Ratings TODAYBlack 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 With hotter, drier conditions forecasted and fire indices rising we want to remind our visitors to recreate responsibly. It takes […]

East La Jara Prescribed Fire – Mt Taylor Ranger DistrictCibola National Forest and National Grasslands Yesterday, with hand and aerial ignitions fire crews completed ignitions on 807 acres of the remaining units. Crews will continue to secure the lines and mop up the perimeter. Fridays and Saturday’s fire operations accomplished the total 956 acres of […]

5/18/24 UPDATE: Fire operations continue today on Mt. Taylor Ranger – East La Jara Prescribed Fire of the Cibola National Forest and National Grasslands Yesterday, fire crews completed ignitions on 149 acres of the East La Jara prescribed fire within blocks 1, 2 & 3. Today, crews plan to continue ignitions on additional units within […]

Cibola National Forest & National Grasslands ALBUQUERQUE, NM – May 16, 2024 – Pending favorable conditions, fire managers on the Cibola National Forest & National Grasslands (NF & NGs) may implement the previously announced East La Jara prescribed fire (RX) on the Mt Taylor Ranger District as early as Friday May 17, 2024. Fire crews […]

Cibola National Forest and National Grasslands fire crews have completed ignitions on the Durfee Bolander Prescribed Fire Unit 9 in the vicinity of Durfee and Bolander Canyon along FSR 220 and West of FSR 473. Aerial ignitions were used to burn the interior of the unit perimeter. Fire crews will continue to secure and control […]

Starting as early as May 2 ALBUQUERQUE, NM – May 1, 2024 – Pending favorable conditions, fire managers on the Cibola National Forest & National Grasslands (NF & NGs) may implement the Durfee Bolander prescribed fire (RX) on unit 9 on the Magdalena Ranger District as early as Thursday May 2, 2024. Smoke may be […]

4/29/2024 UPDATE Cibola National Forest and National Grasslands fire crews have implemented ignitions on unit 12 today. Aerial ignitions were used today to burn interiors within perimeters on all 3 units (11, 12 & 13). Crews will continue to secure and control the perimeters. Smoke may be visible for a couple days from the communities […]

4/28/24 UPDATE: Cibola National Forest and National Grasslands fire crews have implemented ignitions today on Durfee Bolander Prescribed Fire units 11 & 13. Crews will continue to blackline and secure the perimeters. Tomorrow, pending favorable conditions, fire crews plan to continue burn operations on the Durfee Bolander prescribed fire with ignitions on unit 12. Smoke […]

Starting as early as April 28 ALBUQUERQUE, NM – April 26, 2024 – Pending favorable conditions, fire managers on the Cibola National Forest & National Grasslands (NF & NGs) may implement the Durfee Bolander prescribed fire (RX) on units 11,12 & 13 on the Magdalena Ranger District as early as Sunday April 28, 2024. Smoke […]

Today, Cibola National Forest and National Grasslands fire crews completed ignitions on 706 acres of the previously announced Sawyer prescribed fire. Crews will continue to secure and control the perimeters. Residual smoke may be visible for a couple of days in the surrounding area of Ramah, Gallup, Thoreau, Bluewater, Grants and Millan. Our land management […]

Cibola National Forest and National Grasslands – Magdalena Ranger District Fire crews completed ignitions to blackline both unit 5 yesterday & unit 6 today. Aerial ignitions were used today to burn within interiors of both units. Crews will continue to secure and control the perimeters. Smoke may be visible for a couple days from the […]