Lightning Strike Fire on Magdalena Ranger District Start Date / Time: July 10, 2023 / 1443 Cause: Lightning Strike         Size: 80 acres as of 1300 on 7/11/23 Location: Water Canyon on the Magdalena Ranger District Resources on scene: USFS Salmon Rappelers from Central Idaho, Lincoln NF Smokey Bear Hot Shots, Idaho City Hot Shots and […]

WEED, New Mexico, July 10, 2023 – Prescribed burns on the Sacramento Ranger District are tentatively scheduled to take place Wednesday, July 12, through Saturday, July 15. These burns are part of an ongoing schedule to clear fuels and mitigate wildfire risks. The prescribed burns will be located in the Weed area, at various burn […]

Successful Candidates Will Work on National Forests, Jemez Pueblo The Cibola National Forest & National Grasslands (NF&NGs) is sharing employment and job training opportunities for young adults with the Forest Stewards Youth Corps.  The Forest Stewards Youth Corps Fall Fire and Fuels crew is now hiring Crew Members with Mountainair and Espanola US Forest Service […]

Water Canyon & Timber Peak Fires – July 10 Water Canyon Fire:Start Date / Time: July 10, 2023 / 1443Cause: Lightning Strike        Size: 15 acres from air resource estimates.Location: Water Canyon on the Magdalena Ranger DistrictResources on scene: Firefighters from the USFS responding with rappelers, smoke jumpers and air attack due to steep rocky terrain.Containment: 0% […]

SANTA FE, NM, July 6, 2023—Due to high fire danger and anticipated worsening conditions with persistent hot and dry conditions, the Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF) is implementing Stage 1 fire restrictions forest-wide with Forest Order #03-10-00-23-06 that takes effect at 8 a.m. Friday, July 7. The National Weather Service, Albuquerque Field Office recently released […]

The fire danger rating for the Mt Taylor Ranger District on the Cibola National Forest & Grasslands has been updated to VERY HIGH. Rating per District:Black Kettle Ranger District: ModerateKiowa and Rita Blanca Ranger District: ModerateMagdalena Ranger District: VERY HIGHMount Taylor Ranger District: VERY HIGH (Rating Update)Sandia Ranger District: HIGHMountainair Ranger District: VERY HIGH The […]

Incident Commander Robert Laeng, IC3 Information Phone: 575-388-8211Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.Email: Maribeth.Pecotte@usda.gov Acres: 59,904Start Date: May 18, 2023Location: 40 miles west of Winston, NMContainment: 32%Fuels: Timber, pinyon/juniper, and grassPersonnel: 140, 1 Type 3 Helicopter Containment on the Pass Fire has increased as fire crews accomplished work to secure containment lines along the southeastern […]

Gila National ForestIncident Commander Robert Laeng, IC3 Information phone: 575-388-8211Hours 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.Email Maribeth.Pecotte@usda.gov Acres: 59,704Start Date: May 18, 2023Location: 40 miles west of Winston, NMCause: LightningContainment: 12%Fuels: Timber, pinon/juniper and grassPersonnel: 140, 1 Type 1 and 2 Type 3 helicopters Yesterday, crews held and monitored Friday’s hand ignitions along the Iron Trail […]

Gila National Forest Incident Commanders Robert Laeng, IC3, Dustin Roper IC3(t) Information phone 575-388-8211Hours 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.Email Maribeth.Pecotte@usda.gov Acres: 59,074Start Date: May 18, 2023Location: 40 miles west of Winston, NMCause: LightningContainment: 12%Fuels: Timber, pinon/juniper, and grassPersonnel: 140; 1 Type 1 and 2 Type 3 Helicopters Information Phone: 575-388-8211    Hours: 8 am-4:30pm                   Email:  Maribeth.Pecotte@usda.gov  Acres: 59,074                                                                                   Start Date: May 18, 2023  Location: 40 miles west of Winston, NM                                        Cause: Lightning  Containment: 12%                                                                            Fuels: Timber, piñon/juniper and grass Personnel: 140; 1 Type 1 […]

ARABELA, New Mexico, June 30, 2023 – The Ruby Mountain Interagency Hotshot Crew is responding to a 5-acre fire north of the Capitan Range, located on the Lincoln National Forest Smokey Bear District. The fire is currently in a remote location. Updates will be posted here.

MIMBRES, NM, June 30, 2023 – A road and trail closure goes into effect at 4:00 p.m. today, impacting several trails within and adjacent to the Pass Fire. The closure is necessary to protect firefighter and public safety in an area of active fire operations and heavy firefighter activity. “As the fire has marched southward, […]

Acres: 57,670                                                                                                      Start Date: May 18, 2023Location: 40 miles west of Winston, NM                                                                                                   Cause: LightningContainment: 12%                                                                                                    Fuels: Timber, piñon/juniper and grassPersonnel: 140, 1 Type 1 Helicopter, 2 Type 3 Helicopters Fire activity and growth were minimal yesterday, with low to moderate fire behavior observed. The most active area of fire perimeter was along southwest corner […]

Upcoming Actions: There is minimal fire activity today with some creeping and smoldering. Crews are working to mop up the western edge, cooling any hotspots. Suppression repair and rehabilitation continues as crews work to reduce erosion, reseed where needed, fix fences and close dozer lines. With fire activity decreasing, management of the fire will be […]

Due to increased fire danger and prolonged drought, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is implementing fire restrictions in San Juan, Rio Arriba, Taos, Colfax, Union, Los Alamos, Santa Fe, Mora, Harding and San Miguel counties, as well as portions of public land in McKinley and Sandoval counties.    The restrictions are effective immediately and will […]

Information Phone: 575-388-8211 Hours 8:00 to 4:30 Email Maribeth.Pecotte@usda.gov Acres: 57, 523Start Date: May 18, 2023Location: 40 miles west of Winston, NMCause: LightningContainment: 12%Fuels: timber, pinon/juniper, and grassPersonnel: 133, 1 type 1 helicopter, 2 type 3 helicopters Infrared mapping from last night showed approximately 420 acres of fire growth and isolated heat at the southeast […]

Every New Mexican knows the beginning of July may mark the start of monsoon season. With monsoons, comes lightning, and not always with rain. As Fourth of July weekend approaches, remember fireworks may be illegal to use where you are, and always illegal on federally managed lands in New Mexico no matter what day of […]

Reported start date / time: June 28, 2023 / 0600 Cause: Lightning Strike         Size: at 2:00 p.m. estimated to be at .10 acres. Location: Near the Faulty Trail, west of Cienega Recreation Area off Crest Highway, Hwy 536 on the Sandia Ranger District. Resources on scene: Forest Service. Fire behavior: Low intensity. Fuels: Timber and […]

Information Phone: 575-388-8211; 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Email: Maribeth.Pecotte@usda.gov Acres: 57,100 (estimated) Start Date: May 18, 2023 Location: 40 miles west of Winston, NM Cause: Lightning Containment: 12% Fuels: Timber, pinon, juniper, and grass Personnel: 168 The Pass Fire showed minimal growth yesterday. Infrared flights have not been possible for the past two days; […]

Upcoming Actions: Fire crews are working with resource advisers to rehabilitate areas affected by fire management activity. Crews are focused on suppression repair work, including reseeding, fixing fences, installing erosion control features and closing dozer lines. Fire activity has reduced significantly, and crews continue to patrol by gridding for hotspots and cooling them for further […]

Location: ¼ mile NW of Pinos Altos, NM I Size: 328 acres I Containment: 70% Personnel: 141 I Start Date: June 20, 2023 I Cause: Under investigation Fuels: Slash, timber and brush This is the LAST daily update for the RICO FIRE SILVER CITY, NM, June 28, 2023 – This is the last daily update […]