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 […]

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will implement fire restrictions on May 23, 2025, to reduce the risk of wildfire on public lands in the Albuquerque and Las Cruces Districts. This includes public lands in Bernalillo, Catron, Cibola, Doña Ana, Hidalgo, Grant, Luna, McKinley, Otero, Sandoval, Sierra, Socorro, Torrance, and Valencia counties. Prohibited acts include: […]

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, […]

Local firefighting resources are responding to three wildland fires in the Grant County area, including the Carrizo, Outlaw, and Gallinas fires. The string of fires were started by lightning strikes early this morning. They are located east of San Lorenzo and south of New Mexico Highway 152. The Carrizo Fire is 20-acres, burning in grass, […]

Wind Event Moves in as Team Prepares to Transfer Command to the Gila National Forest Acres: 482                                                     Start Date: Sunday, May 4, 2025Location: 38 miles east of Glenwood, NM                                                                                   Personnel: 142Containment: 100%                                                                                               Cause: Lightning Summary: This will be the FINAL press release for the Iron Fire. The fire is 100% contained as of Monday afternoon. No […]

Cinder Cone Fire on Mt. Taylor Ranger District: Final Update Reported start date / time:    May 11, 2025, 9:30am Cause: Unknown        Size: 7.2 acres Location: Mt. Taylor Ranger District – Zuni Mountains near Quartz Hill Resources: Mt. Taylor Ranger District, Cibola County Emergency Services, Milan VFD, El Moro VFD Strategy: Full suppression Evacuations: NO Evacuations […]

Helicopters Support Final Operations as Resources Exit Fireline Safely Acres: 482                                                                                     Start Date: Sunday, May 4, 2025 Location: 38 miles east of Glenwood, NM                                       Personnel: 173 Containment: 92%                                                                         Cause: Lightning Summary: Mop-up operations continue across the fire area, with crews now working to a depth of up to 100 feet where conditions allow. This effort […]

Ground Mapping Completed as Containment Increases Acres: 482                                                                                     Start Date: Sunday, May 4, 2025 Location: 38 miles east of Glenwood, NM                                       Personnel: 200 Containment: 77%                                                                         Cause: Lightning Summary: Ground-based GPS mapping of the Iron Fire has been completed, providing a highly accurate and detailed representation of the final fire perimeter. The fire has been mapped […]

Firefighters Begin Ground Mapping; Snow Lake Reopens for Public Use Acres: 637                                                                               Start Date: Sunday, May 4, 2025 Location: 38 miles east of Glenwood, NM                                 Personnel: 183 Containment: 45%                                                                   Cause: Lightning Summary: Firefighters initiated a ground-based GPS perimeter walk yesterday to improve the accuracy of fire mapping. While the effort is still underway, the northern […]

Reported start date / time:    May 11, 2025, 9:30am Cause: Unknown        Size: 7.2 acres Location: Mt. Taylor Ranger District – Zuni Mountains near Quartz Hill Resources: Mt. Taylor Ranger District, Cibola County Emergency Services, Milan VFD, El Moro VFD Strategy: Full suppression Evacuations: NO Evacuations are currently in effect Values at risk: Paxton Springs Subdivision, […]

South Peak Fire Final Update Reported start date / time:    May 7, 2025, 3:45pm Cause: Unknown        Size: 0.1 acres Location: Sandia Ranger District – East side of Sandia Mountains, East of South Peak Resources: Type 3 Helicopter, 2 Type 6 USFS Engines Strategy: Full suppression Evacuations: NO Evacuations are currently in effect Values at risk: […]

Fire Mapped While Crews Complete Containment Line Acres: 822                                                                               Start Date: Sunday, May 4, 2025 Location: 38 miles east of Glenwood, NM                                 Personnel: 182 Containment: 10%                                                                   Cause: Lightning Summary: Following several days of moisture over the fire area, an infrared (IR) flight was conducted to map the fire perimeter and identify areas of remaining heat. […]

Helipad Built to Support Fireline Supply Operations in Remote Terrain Acres: 901                                                                               Start Date: Sunday, May 4, 2025 Location: 38 miles east of Glenwood, NM                                 Personnel: 168 Containment: 5%                                                                    Cause: Lightning Summary: Two hotshot crews used direct line construction tactics on the fire edge and completed construction of a helispot yesterday. The purpose of creating […]

New Fire Start on the Sandia Ranger District:South Peak Fire Update Reported start date / time:    May 7, 2025, 3:45pm Cause: Unknown        Size: 0.1 acres Location: Sandia Ranger District – East side of Sandia Mountains, East of South Peak Resources on enroute: Type 3 Helicopter, 2 Type 6 USFS Engines Strategy: The strategy for the […]

Press Release – Tuesday, May 6, 2025 – Notification for Public Health and Safety Acres: 901                                                                                            Start Date: Sunday, May 4, 2025 Location: 38 miles east of Glenwood, NM                                                                                   Personnel:  156 Containment: 0%                                                                                         Cause: Under Investigation Summary: At 6:00 a.m. today, Incident Commander Marcus Cornwell and the Gila Las Cruces Type 3 Incident Management Team […]

Wildfire reported in Gila Wilderness Reserve, NM, May 4, 2025—The Gila National Forest and Wilderness Ranger District are responding to the Iron Fire, reported about noon today in the Iron Mesa area of the Gila Wilderness. Driven by strong winds, the Iron Fire has grown quickly to 901 acres. The safety of firefighters and the […]

All prescribed fires ignited last fall and winter are now out. Fire crews have been patrolling and monitoring the fires since they were lit between October and January. While no fire or smoke has been seen for months, they used infrared technology, either handheld infrared cameras or uncrewed aerial systems, commonly referred to as drones, […]