Gila National Forest – Area 74 Prescribed Burn to begin Monday, May 7 on Black Range Ranger District

Truth or Consequences, NM, May 3, 2018—For Immediate Release. The Area 74 Prescribed Burn, an estimated 9,000 acres in the Black Range, is scheduled to begin Monday, May 7. The district Fire Management Officer, Dennis Fahl states that “the weather and fuel monitoring conditions have reached the optimal window for this activity.” Fahl anticipates the […]

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Cibola NF & National Grasslands – Magdalena Ranger District Plan Gallinas Prescribed Burn

MAGDALENA, NM, May 3, 2018 – Fire managers from Cibola National Forest and National Grasslands will conduct the Gallinas prescribed fire on the Magdalena Ranger District beginning Friday, May 4, 2018. The predicted forecast calls for hot, dry, and windy conditions – those needed to successfully treat pinyon-juniper forests. This treatment was planned nine years […]

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Carson National Forest to Implement Stage I Fire Restrictions May 7

Due to increasingly dry conditions and anticipated low moisture levels in weather forecasts, the Carson National Forest will implement forest-wide Stage I fire restrictions effective Monday, May 7 at 8:00 a.m. The Stage I fire restrictions will remain in effect across the Carson National Forest until rescinded. Under Stage I restrictions: Fires, campfires, charcoal grills, […]

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UPDATE: Chicoma Fire 100 percent contained

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE UPDATE: Chicoma Fire 100 percent contained Start Date: April 30, 2018 Cause: Unknown Size: 42 acres Percent Containment: 100% Location:  Española Ranger District of the Santa Fe National Forest.  5 miles east of Chicoma peak and 9 miles west of Española Vegetation:  Ponderosa pine, juniper, and piñon pine Weather:  The fire received […]

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Stage II Fire Restrictions to Begin at El Malpais & El Morro National Monuments

  Grants, NM: Due to prolonged hot, dry weather and to reduce the risk of human caused fires at El Malpais and El Morro National Monuments, park officials will be implementing Stage II fire restrictions beginning Friday, May 4, 2018. Beginning at 8 am on Friday, May 4 the following acts will be prohibited throughout El Malpais and El Morro National Monuments: Setting, building, […]

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UPDATE: OK Bar Fire – Hidalgo County – 05/02/18

The OK Bar Fire, burning south of Gillespie Mountain in Hidalgo County, is currently 53% contained.  The fire, now estimated at 51,117 acres, is located 40 miles south of Animas, NM on the Diamond A Ranch, which includes private, state and BLM land.  No structures are threatened.  The fire has moved west over the crest of […]

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Santa Fe National Forest Urges Public Not to Fly Drones Within or Near Wildland Fire Operations to Ensure Safety for All

SANTA FE, NM – May 2, 2018 – For Immediate Release. On Monday, April 30, airtanker operations were suspended on the Chicoma Fire on the Santa Fe National Forest after drone intrusion.  Chicoma Fire is burning on the Española Ranger District on the Santa Fe National Forest 5 miles east of Chicoma Peak and 9 […]

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UPDATE Chicoma Fire: May 2

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Chicoma Fire: May 2 Start Date: April 30, 2018 Cause: Unknown Size: 42 acres Percent Containment: 80% Location:  Española Ranger District of the Santa Fe National Forest.  5 miles east of Chicoma peak and 9 miles west of Española Vegetation:  Ponderosa pine, juniper, and piñon pine Weather:  South southwest winds will continue […]

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UPDATE Chicoma Fire: May 1

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Chicoma Fire: May 1 Start Date: April 30, 2018 Cause: Unknown Size: 42 acres Percent Containment: 50% Location:  Espanola Ranger District of the Santa Fe National Forest.  5 miles east of Chicoma peak and 9 miles west of Espanola Vegetation:  Ponderosa pine, juniper, and piñon pine Weather:  Southwest winds will continue across […]

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Chicoma Fire: April 30

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Chicoma Fire: April 30 Start Date: April 30, 2018 Cause: Unknown Size: 20 acres Location:  Espanola Ranger District of the Santa Fe National Forest.  5 miles east of Chicoma peak and 9 miles west of Espanola. Weather:  The winds are currently out of the southwest, gusting up to 20 MPH. Situation: The […]

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Stage II Fire Restrictions to begin on the Mount Taylor, Mountainair, and Sandia Ranger Districts

Albuquerque, NM. April 30, 2018 – Drought conditions continue throughout the Cibola National Forest and National Grasslands.  To reduce the risk of human caused fires, the fire restriction level will increase to Stage 2 on the Mount Taylor, Mountainair, and Sandia Ranger Districts. Stage II fire restrictions will be effective at 8:00 a.m. on the […]

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UPDATE: OK Bar Fire – Hidalgo County

This fire, burning south of Gillespie Mountain in Hidalgo County, is currently estimated at 37,067 acres and 50% contained.  The fire is burning in very rugged terrain on private, state and BLM land.  No structures are threatened.  Fuels include grass, pinon, juniper and oak.  The fire was sparked by lightning on April 22, 2018.   […]

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Gallinas prescribed fire planned for Magdalena Ranger District

Albuquerque, NM, April 27, 2018 – Fire managers from Cibola National Forest and National Grasslands will conduct the Gallinas prescribed fire on the Magdalena Ranger District sometime within the next few weeks if weather and wind conditions are favorable.  The predicted forecast calls for hot, dry, and windy conditions – those needed to successfully treat […]

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Diener Canyon and Bluewater Fire Command to be Transferred Back to the Cibola National Forest

As fire activity has drastically decreased, so has the need for personnel and equipment. The ABQ Zone Incident Management Team will transition command of the fires back to the Cibola National Forest, Mount Taylor Ranger District, Type 4 organization tomorrow morning. The public can still expect to see smoke put up by smoldering areas within […]

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No prescribed burns on SFNF while in fire restrictions

SANTA FE, NM – April 25, 2018 – For Immediate Release. Due to overall dry conditions across the forest fire managers announce they will not conduct prescribed burns on the Santa Fe National Forest while in fire restrictions. Monsoon rains forecasted in July could, however, allow fire restrictions to be lifted sometime in the summer. […]

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Coyote Ranger District French Mesa Prescribed Burn on Hold

SANTA FE, NM – April 25, 2018 – For Immediate Release. Due to unfavorable moisture levels and weather conditions, fire managers at the Coyote Ranger District of the Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF) placed the French Mesa prescribed burn on hold. Additionally, forest service personnel would like the public to report any suspicious activity in […]

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Revised Closure Order for the Bluewater and Diener Fires Area

The Cibola National Forest and National Grasslands has revised the Bluewater and Diener Fires Temporary Area Closure Order. Bluewater fire: The restricted area includes all of the land contained within the following boundary: beginning in T12N, R12W Section 20 where Highway 612 ends and FSR 178 begins south along FSR 178 to T12N, R12W Section […]

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Cibola National Forest Lifts Many Portions of the Fire Closure Order

A Closure Order Issued by Cibola National Forest and National Grasslands as a result of the Bluewater and Diener Canyon Fires has been lifted in several areas. A three-sided rectangle encompassing the north, east, and south perimeter of the Bluewater Fire and FR 178 on the west will form the new closure. The only closure […]

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Work on Diener Canyon and Bluewater Fires Shifts to Environmental and Road Repair

There is only one section of perimeter on the Bluewater Fire which is still requiring the attention of firefighters. It is at the northern end of the southeast flank along Salitre Mesa. The problem area is actually a cluster of several spot fires that emerged during last week’s wind events. Extinguishing the spots is being […]

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