San Gregorio Fire on the Santa Fe National Forest – July 12, 2020

Public should avoid San Gregorio Trailhead, San Gregorio Reservoir Start date: July 11, 2020 Cause: Under investigation Size: Approximately 7.8 acres Location: Cuba Ranger District on the Santa Fe National Forest, approximately 1 mile from the San Gregorio Trailhead parking lot on Forest Road 70 and approximately 9 miles from Cuba, NM. Containment: 30% Fuels: […]

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Ojo de los Casos Crews Assist in Mutual Aid Fire

Mountainair, NM – For Immediate Release – Great progress is still being made in containing the Ojo de los Casos Fire.  The fire, burning on the Mountainair Ranger District of the Cibola National Forest and private lands protected by New Mexico State Forestry, remains at 180 acres and is 38% contained. Yesterday firefighters continued fireline […]

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Ojo De Los Casos Crews Provide Mutual Aid

On Wednesday evening Torrance County was quick in providing mutual aid to the Mountainair Ranger District as the Ojo De Los Casos fire grew. Saturday afternoon the favor was returned as the Albuquerque Zone Incident Management’s Structure Protection/Initial Attack Division assigned to the Ojo De Los Casos Fire responded to a 16 acre grass fire […]

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Gila National Forest – Update for Cub Fire – July 11, 2020 – Wilderness Ranger District

Map_Cub PIO July 11 Location:  Approximately one-mile northeast of Cub Mountain, near the West Fork of the Gila River, Wilderness Ranger District, Gila National Forest. Start Date:  June 28, 2020                 Cause:  Lightning                    Size:  ~20,630 acres Vegetation:  grass, brush, and multiple snags          IC: Ty Oliver, ICT4 Strategy/Summary: The Cub Fire is burning on National […]

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How a “dirty burn” affects wildfire containment percentage

Wildfire perimeters aren’t always easy to define. When drawn on a public map, they are often depicted as one simple line to describe the outermost bounds of the area that is burning. However, fire may not burn evenly throughout the interior of that fire, so things might look quite different on the ground. The reasons […]

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Cibola NF & National Grasslands – Fire Update – Vics Peak Fire at 50% Containment

 Magdalena, NM – For Immediate Release – The lightning-caused Vics Peak Fire, burning on the Magdalena Ranger District, Cibola National Forest since June 15, has grown to 13,981 acres, with 24 personnel assigned. Light to Moderate fire behavior continued over the Vicks Peak Fire yesterday. The fire continues to move between Milo Canyon and Smith Canyon […]

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Ojo de los Casos Fire 10% Contained

Mountainair, NM – For Immediate Release – Firefighters continue to make progress in their work to contain the Ojo de los Casos Fire that has been active over the past couple of days. The fire, burning on the Mountainair Ranger District of the Cibola National Forest has reached 180 acres and is 10% contained. Containment […]

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Lincoln National Forest: 16 Springs Prescribed Burn Planned

Sacramento Ranger District to Conduct Prescribed Burn in 16 Springs CLOUDCROFT, NM – 7/10/20: The Sacramento Ranger District will conduct a prescribed burn in the 16 Springs area approximately 12 miles northwest of Mayhill, NM beginning Saturday July 11, 2020 and throughout the week as conditions allow. Smoke from the prescribed burn will travel northeast […]

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Ojo de Los Casos Fire Burning Near Dog Head Fire Scar

Mountainair, NM – For Immediate Release – The Ojo de los Casos Fire, burning on the Mountainair Ranger District of the Cibola National Forest since Wednesday July 8, has reached 167 acres and is 0% contained. The size increase is contributed to more accurate mapping as well as an infrared flight overnight. Lots of good […]

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Cibola NF & National Grasslands – Fire Update – Record Heat Conditions Predicted for Vics Peak Fire

Magdalena, NM – For Immediate Release – The lightning-caused Vics Peak Fire, burning on the Magdalena Ranger District, Cibola National Forest since June 15, has grown to 13,477 acres, with 19 personnel assigned. Moderate fire behavior continued over the Vicks Peak Fire yesterday. The fire continues to move between Milo Canyon and Smith Canyon.  The fire […]

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Wildfires Are No Drone Zones!

If you fly, we can’t! Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), or drones, interfere with wildland fire air traffic, such as air tankers, helicopters, and other firefighting aircraft that are necessary to suppress wildland fires. Hobbyist drones are too small for pilots to see making a mid-air collision a distinct possibility. Typically, if a drone is detected […]

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Ojo de Los Casos Fire Burning Near Dog Head Fire Scar

Mountainair, NM – For Immediate Release – The Ojo de los Casos Fire started on the Mountainair Ranger District of the Cibola National Forest on Wednesday July 8, 2020 around 6:00 pm. It is located in Torrance County, roughly 7 miles southwest of the village of Chilili. Firefighters quickly responded with air support (water, fire […]

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Gila National Forest – Update on Cub Fire for July 9, 2020

Location:  Approximately one-mile northeast of Cub Mountain, near the West Fork of the Gila River, Wilderness Ranger District, Gila National Forest. Start Date:  June 28, 2020                 Cause:  Lightning                    Size:  ~15,285 acres Vegetation:  grass, brush, and multiple snags          IC: Ty Oliver, ICT4 Strategy/Summary: The Cub Fire is burning on National Forest System lands on […]

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Crews Make Progress Overnight on Ojo De Los Casos Fire

Mountainair, NM, July 9, 2020, 7:30am – The Ojo De La Caso Fire is now estimated at approximately 90 acres with no containment.  As fire activity slowed overnight, crews worked diligently to establish a line around a large section of the fire.  Smoke from the fire will likely become more visible as the day heats […]

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Ojo De Los Casos Fire Burning in Northern Manzano Mountains

Mountainair, NM, July 8, 2020, 11pm – The Ojo De Los Casos Fire, burning on the north end of the Mountainair Ranger District was reported just before 6pm this evening.  Air resources were quickly dispatched with several air tanker retardant drops made as well as helicopter water bucket drops before darkness grounded all aircraft.  The […]

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Ojo de los Casos Fire

Mountainair, NM, July 8, 2020 – The Ojo de los Casos Fire is burning on the north end of the Manzano Mountains, near the Dog Head fire scar. The fire is estimated at 20 acres and was initially very active, causing big plumes of smoke that could be seen from  the Albuquerque, East Mountain, and […]

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Final Update – Tadpole Fire – July 8, 2020

Location:  5 miles north of Pinos Altos, NM                                           Size:  ~ 11,159 acres Start Date:  June 6, 2020                                                                               Cause:  Lightning Vegetation:  Trees and Brush                                                                      Containment: 75% Incident Commander: E. Huerta, ICT4 Strategy/Summary:   The Tadpole Fire has not advanced in the last few days. Interior smokes are being monitored by fire crews. Crews continue […]

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Gila National Forest – Update on Cub Fire for July 8, 2020

Map_Cub PIO July 8 Location:  Approximately one-mile northeast of Cub Mountain, near the West Fork of the Gila River, Wilderness Ranger District, Gila National Forest. Start Date:  June 28, 2020                 Cause:  Lightning                    Size:  ~11,565 acres Vegetation:  grass, brush, and multiple snags          IC: Ty Oliver, ICT4 Strategy/Summary: The Cub Fire is burning on National […]

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Gila National Forest – Update on Cub Fire – July 7, 2020

Map_Cub PIO July 7 pm Location:  Approximately one-mile northeast of Cub Mountain, near the West Fork of the Gila River, Wilderness Ranger District, Gila National Forest. Start Date:  June 28, 2020                  Cause:  Lightning                    Size:  ~10,250 acres Vegetation:  grass, brush, and multiple snags Strategy/Summary: The Cub Fire is burning on National Forest System lands on […]

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Cibola NF & National Grasslands – Fire Update – Drier Fire Weather Predicted for Vics Peak Fire

Magdalena, NM – For Immediate Release – The lightning-caused Vics Peak Fire, burning on the Magdalena Ranger District, Cibola National Forest since June 15, has grown to 13076 acres, with 54 personnel assigned. Moderate fire behavior occurred over the Vicks Peak Fire yesterday. The fire continues to progress to the west backing down the slope in […]

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