Chavez Fire – June 28 Reported start date / time: June 28, 2023 / 0600 Cause: Lightning Strike         Size: at 8:00 a.m. it was estimated to be at .10 acres Location: West of Cienega Recreation Area off Crest Highway, Hwy 536. Resources on scene: Firefighters from the Cibola National Forest and Bernalillo County are on […]

Stage 1 Restrictions to be enforced effective June 28 ALAMOGORDO, New Mexico, June 28, 2023 – The Lincoln National Forest has implemented Stage 1 Fire Restrictions effective June 28, 2023, as dry weather and heightened fire danger risk continues. “These restrictions will help reduce the risk of human-caused wildfires as we enter a time of […]

The fire danger ratings for 3 districts on the Cibola National Forest & Grasslands have updates. Black Kettle Ranger District: ModerateKiowa and Rita Blanca Ranger District: ModerateMagdalena Ranger District: VERY HIGH (Rating Update)Mount Taylor Ranger District: HIGH (Rating Update)Sandia Ranger District: HIGHMountainair Ranger District: VERY HIGH (Rating Update) The Fire Danger Rating is calculated by […]

Location: ¼ mile NW of Pinos Altos, NM I Size: 328 acres* I Containment: 70% Personnel: 146 I Start Date: June 20, 2023 I Cause: Under investigation Fuels: Slash, timber and brush *Size: adjusted from 421 acre to 328 acres due to more accurate mapping The LAST FIRE UPDATE for the RICO FIRE will be […]

Upcoming Actions: Fire activity on the eastern flank of the fire has reduced significantly. Crews patrol the fire, gridding for hotspots and cooling them to further control the fire. Most of the fire activity remains on the western flank where crews are working through rugged and steep terrain to strengthen control lines. Crew members are working […]

Location: ¼ mile NW of Pinos Altos, NM I Size: 421 acres I Containment: 61% Personnel: 157 I Start Date: June 20, 2023 I Cause: Under investigation Fuels: Slash, timber and brush The LAST FIRE UPDATE for the RICO FIRE will be issued on June 28th SILVER CITY, NM, June 26, 2023 – Having achieved […]

Upcoming Actions: Red flag conditions, with very dry and breezy to windy conditions, are forecasted today. Fire crews continue to hold and patrol the fire line, gridding for potential spot fires. Suppression tactics have reduced fire activity, and crews will continue to improve containment lines, working in steep and rugged terrain. Suppression activities are concentrated on […]

Location: ¼ mile NW of Pinos Altos, NM I Size: 421 acres I Containment: 50% Personnel: 179 I Start Date: June 20, 2023 I Cause: Under investigation Fuels: Slash, timber and brush SILVER CITY, NM, June 25, 2023 – As of last night, firefighters had reached 50% containment. Work to contain the fire continued through […]

Upcoming Actions: Every fire receives a strategic, risk-based response, and as conditions change, so do management actions. With weather over the next few days forecasted to be less than favorable for the Comanche Fire to fulfill its ecological role, fire managers have decided to limit further growth and take suppression actions. On Saturday, air tankers and […]

Chance Fire  Date/Time: The Chance fire, located on private land west of Ruidoso in Lincoln County, is now 5% contained and 9 acres in size. All control lines held through high winds today, and crews will continue to staff the fire tomorrow to ensure all heat and smoke is addressed. This human-caused fire was reported […]

Location: ¼ mile NW of Pinos Altos, NM I Size: 421 acres* I Containment: 20% Personnel: 195 I Start Date: June 20, 2023 I Cause: Under investigation Fuels: Slash, timber and brush *Size: adjusted from 423 acres back to 421 acres due to more accurate mapping SILVER CITY, NM, June 24, 2023 – As strong, […]

Upcoming Actions: Fire crews worked hard to successfully hold the Comanche Fire within its containment lines on Friday despite Red Flag conditions. This was possible due to the extensive planning and tactics implemented during the previous days. Increased smoke was due to interior burning. Fire managers continue to assess and plan for various scenarios in […]

Date/Time: The Chance fire is active on private land west of Ruidoso in Lincoln County. This human-caused fire was reported this afternoon around 12:20 and had 240 homes within a 1-mile radius of the fire start. The fire has burned 10.3 acres. Effective suppression efforts from the Forestry Division, Lincoln County Volunteer Fire Department, Ruidoso […]

BLM Las Cruces District Location: ¼ mile NW of Pinos Altos, NM I Size: 423 acres I Containment: 20% Personnel: 170 I Start Date: June 20, 2023 I Cause: Under investigation Fuels: Slash, timber and brush SILVER CITY, NM, June 23, 2023 – Firefighters have achieved 20% containment on the Rico Fire which is now […]

Information Phone: 575-388-8211 Hours 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Email 2023.Pass@firenet.gov Acres: 53,091                                                                                    Start Date: May 18, 2023 Location: 40 miles west of Winston, NM                                        Cause: Lightning Containment: 13%                                                                            Fuels: Timber, pinon/juniper and grass Personnel: 54 Yesterday’s reconnaissance flight showed minimal fire activity and no change in acreage on the Pass Fire. Firefighters worked along […]

Upcoming Actions: Yesterday’s operations were successful as fire crews continued to create depth in the containment lines on the east perimeter of the Comanche Fire focus area. With information from a meteorologist and other specialists, fire managers are halting firing operations today due to Red Flag conditions and forecasted west winds. Crews will focus on […]

Information Phone: 575-388-8211 Hours 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. email 2023.Pass@firenet.gov Acres: 53,091Location: 40 miles west of Winston, NM Containment: 13%Personnel: 54 Start Date: May 18, 2023Cause: LightningFuels: Timber, pinon/juniper and grass Last night’s infrared flight showed little to no fire activity on the slow-moving, low intensity Pass Fire, with just an acre of growth. […]

BLM Las Cruces District Rico Fire Update – June 22, 2023 Location: ¼ mile NW of Pinos Altos, NM I Size: 421 acres I Containment: 0% Personnel: 170 I Start Date: June 20, 2023 I Cause: Under investigation Fuels: Slash, timber and brush SILVER CITY, NM, June 22, 2023 – The Rico Fire has grown […]

Expected break in winds not developing  Despite favorable vegetation and fuels conditions, fire managers have decided to postpone the planned collaborative prescribed fire across the New Mexico-Colorado border. Fire personnel have determined that an anticipated break in the windy weather pattern is not going to develop in time to meet project objectives. Forecast windspeeds will […]