The New Mexico Forestry Division, along with other local, state and federal resources are responding to several wildfires in New Mexico. Here are updates on two of the fires burning in the State of New Mexico’s jurisdiction (non-federal, non-Tribal, and non-municipal lands). Sunset Fire Date / Time/ Situation: A GPS acreage assessment has brought the […]

Despite critical fire weather conditions, crews on the ground and in the air kept growth of the American Mesa Fire at a minimum. The fire is currently 756 acres with 25% containment.  “This fire really wanted to move,” said Jicarilla Ranger District Duty Officer Brent Woffindin. “But our crews worked hard to keep it at […]

The New Mexico Forestry Division, along with other local, state and federal resources are responding to several wildfires in New Mexico. Fire activity in New Mexico and other states is leading to increased smoke conditions. Individuals sensitive to wildfire smoke should take precautions and use the New Mexico Department of Health 5-3-1 Visibility Method to determine […]

SANTA FE, NM, Aug. 7, 2023 – The Northern New Mexico Type 3 Incident Management Team took command of the Black Feather Fire at 6:00 am Monday, August 7, 2023. The team will be working closely with New Mexico State Police, Rio Arriba Sherriff’s Office, New Mexico Livestock Board and US Forest Service Law Enforcement Officers to […]

Crews are continuing to work the 450-acre American Mesa Fire today by securing the fire’s edge and patrolling for hotspots outside containment lines. Containment remains at 8%. Air resources are expected to be available to assist later today. We are planning to transition management of fire to a Type 3 Incident Management Team this evening. […]

Crews from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and San Juan County are on-scene at the Lake Fire on Middle Mesa, northwest of Navajo Lake in San Juan County, N.M.. Agency crews responded to the fire on Aug. 5.   The lightning-strike fire originated on BLM-managed lands and is approximately 100 […]

SANTA FE, NM, Aug. 6, 2023 – Firefighters are responding to a wildfire about 44 miles northwest of Santa Fe in the San Pedro Parks Wilderness of the Coyote Ranger District. It’s called the Black Feather Fire and is estimated at 1,500 acres. The lightning-caused fire started Saturday, Aug. 5, and is being managed with a full […]

Fire crews and air resources assigned to the American Mesa Fire made initial progress by increasing containment to 8% from 0% today. The fire, which is moving eastward, grew 50 acres from 400. It is located about 16 miles southwest of Dulce, N.M., on the Jicarilla Ranger District.  Numerous air tankers and helicopters worked the fire, […]

With the wildfires come smoke. Strengthening wind is currently pushing smoke from the American Mesa Fire to the east, which may affect areas along the New Mexico-Colorado border and as far south as Dulce, Chama, Tres Piedras and Questa. Other fires are contributing, too: the Lake Fire near Navajo Lake, the Dry Fire on the […]

The latest information on the American Mesa Fire: Fire updates are also posted on InciWeb and Carson National Forest social media channels (Facebook, Twitter).

Carson National Forest fire personnel, with the assistance of a large air tanker, are on scene of the 200-acre American Mesa Fire on the Jicarilla Ranger District, about 16 miles southeast of Arboles, CO. The lightning-caused fire is burning in piñon-juniper habitat. The fire is threatening natural gas infrastructure and is about four miles from […]

Incident Start Date: August 3                              Cause:  Lightning Size: 10-15 acres                                                     Incident Type: Wildfire   Vegetation Type:  Pinyon/Juniper                       Fire Strategy: Confine/Contain Fire Update: Crews from the Smokey Bear Ranger District are on-scene at a wildfire on the north side of West Mountain, near Forest Service Road 616. The lightning-strike fire originated on forest […]

Fire crews fully contained the Sierra (pictured) and Cedar Rock fires yesterday. They were the last of 10 lightning-caused fires over the past two weeks to be 100% contained. A full list of recent fires is available on the Carson National Forest website.

Incident Start Date: August 3                              Cause:  Lightning Size: 5 Acres                                                            Incident Type: Wildfire   Vegetation Type:  Pinyon/Juniper                       Fire Strategy: Confine/Contain Fire Update: Crews from the Smokey Bear Ranger District are responding to a wildfire on the north side of West Mountain, near Forest Service Road 616. The lightning-strike fire originated on […]

Carson National Forest and New Mexico Forestry Division crews responded to the Sierra Fire in El Rito Canyon, north of El Rito, NM, today. The 3/4-acre fire is 50% contained. It was caused by lightning on private land and spread onto national forest. It is creeping in mixed conifer understory. Over on the Jicarilla Ranger […]

Crews from the Smokey Bear Ranger District are responding to a fire on West Mountain on the Lincoln National Forest. The current size is 2 acres. Updates to follow.

Carson National Forest crews continued to respond to lightning-caused fires across the forest today. There’s been three new starts, all which have been fully contained, since last night’s update. Two of the new starts are on the Jicarilla Ranger District and another is northwest of Tres Piedras, NM. At this time, the forest’s fire management […]

The fire danger rating for three districts on the Cibola National Forest & Grasslands have been lowered from VERY HIGH to HIGH following recent rain activity. Black Kettle Ranger District: Moderate Kiowa and Rita Blanca Ranger District: Moderate Magdalena Ranger District: HIGH (Rating lowered) Mount Taylor Ranger District: HIGH (Rating lowered) Sandia Ranger District: HIGH […]

Carson National Forest fire crews are on scene of the Cedar Rock Fire on the Jicarilla Ranger District. The estimated 4- to 5-acre lightning-caused fire is located north of Forest Road 218 (Carracas Mesa Road), which is approximately 10 miles southeast of Arboles, CO, and 50 miles east of Farmington, NM (Google Map). Crews and […]

UPDATE: Incident Start Date: August 1                              Cause:  Lightning Size: 30 Acres                                                         Incident Type: Wildfire   Vegetation Type:  Pinyon/Juniper                       Fire Strategy: Confine/Contain Fire Update: On August 1, 2023, Crews responded to a fire in Crooked Canyon on the Guadalupe Ranger District, Lincoln National Forest. The fire originated on National Forest land, burning […]