Incident Start Date: August 3 Cause: Lightning Size: 212 acres Incident Type: Wildfire Vegetation Type: Pinyon/Juniper Fire Strategy: Confine/Contain Fire Update: Crews from the Smokey Bear Ranger District continue working at the West Mountain Fire, a lightning-caused wildfire that began on August 3. The fire is currently being managed for forest […]
Continue readingNM State Fires – August 10
Good afternoon, The New Mexico Forestry Division would like to update you on several wildfires that are requiring the attention of state, local and federal resources in New Mexico. Hart Canyon Fire Sunset Fire West Fire Fire Weather Summary Today`s round of afternoon and early evening showers and thunderstorms will be isolated and favor the […]
Continue readingGila National Forest Wildfire Roundup – Aug. 9
SILVER CITY, NM, Aug. 8, 2023 – Precipitation has moderated activity on many wildfires across the Gila National Forest, while lightning has sparked others that are being reported and checked. At least 10 new fires were reported to the Silver City Interagency Dispatch Center Tuesday. The following is a summary of fire activity: Wilderness Ranger District: The […]
Continue readingCrosscut Fire in El Malpais National Monument Reduces Hazardous Fuels
El Malpais & El Morro National MonumentsNews ReleaseFor Immediate ReleaseAugust 8, 2023Contact: Lisa Dittman, lisa_dittman@nps.gov Crosscut Fire in El Malpais National Monument Reduces Hazardous Fuels Current Situation: The Crosscut Fire started on July 27 within El Malpais National Monument. The lightning-caused fire is burning in a remote western area of the monument and is not […]
Continue readingHappy 79th Birthday Smokey Bear!
Did you know – Smokey Bear was authorized by the US Forest Service on August 9, 1944, Explore Smokey’s History! as part of the effort to protect forests during WWII. About the Campaign In May 1950, a live bear cub was found right here in NM, on the Lincoln National Forest’s Capitan Cap Fire and […]
Continue readingLake Fire Update – Aug. 8, 7pm
Location: Middle Mesa, northwest of Navajo Lake in San Juan County, N.M. The fire crosses lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management and the Bureau of Reclamation. Reported start date: Aug. 2, 2023 Size: 73 acres Containment: 90 percent contained. Cause: Lightning strike. Vegetation: Juniper, grass and brush. Fire Behavior: The Lake Fire is exhibiting low fire behavior associated […]
Continue readingAmerican Mesa Fire Update for Aug. 8
A Type 3 Incident Management Team, Nevada Team 2, took command of the fire at 6:00 a.m. on August 8. Fire crews have made excellent progress in holding the fire at 756 acres, with 25% containment. “We received an outstanding hand off from Carson National Forest Operations,” said Incident Commander Brian Kitchen, “We want to […]
Continue readingFirefighters responding to new fire start on Carson National Forest
Firefighters are responding to a new wildfire on the Tres Piedras District to the west zone of the Carson National Forest. The Broke Off Fire is estimated at five acres and the cause is yet to be determined. The fire is located around Broke Off Mountain and Cisneros Springs. Vegetation in the fire area is grass, […]
Continue readingFirefighters use Forest Road 103 as possible containment line on the Black Feather Fire
SANTA FE, NM, Aug. 8, 2023 – Firefighters are preparing Forest Road 103 as a possible containment line by clearing brush and removing limbs. Fire managers will survey the wilderness area for natural containment features to link to roads and fire lines. Firefighters are also implementing structure protection to protect private property and other infrastructure. As firefighters […]
Continue readingLightning Strike Fire Start on Sandia Ranger District
Sandia Heights Fire – August 8 Reported Start Date: Aug 8, 2023 Approx. Start Time: 3:15 pm Fire Start Location: ¼ mile north of Sandia Peak Tram within the Sandia Foothills on the west side of Sandia Ranger District of the Cibola NF & NGs. Cause: Single tree lightning strike. Resources on Scene: Bernalillo County […]
Continue readingLake Fire Update – Aug. 8
Location: Middle Mesa, northwest of Navajo Lake in San Juan County, N.M. The fire crosses lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management and the Bureau of Reclamation. Reported start date: Aug. 2, 2023 Size: 73 acres Containment: 75 percent contained. Cause: Lightning strike. Vegetation: Juniper, grass and brush. Fire Behavior: The Lake Fire is exhibiting low to moderate fire […]
Continue readingNM State Fires – August 8, 2023
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 […]
Continue readingNEW: West Fork Fire, San Juan County, NM – Aug. 8
Location: Eight miles north of Navajo Dam, near mile-marker 20. Reported start date: Aug. 7, 2023, at 5 p.m. Size: Estimated 45 acres Containment: Zero percent containment Cause: Lightning strike. Vegetation: Juniper, grass and brush. Fire Behavior: The West Fork Fire is exhibiting moderate fire behavior associated with winds produced by passing thunderstorms. Resources: Bureau of Land Management and San Juan […]
Continue readingAmerican Mesa Fire Aug. 7 Evening Update
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 […]
Continue readingNM State Fires
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 […]
Continue readingLake Fire Update – Aug. 7
Location: Middle Mesa, northwest of Navajo Lake in San Juan County, N.M. The fire crosses lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management and the Bureau of Reclamation. Reported start date: Aug. 2, 2023 Size: 73 acres Containment: 20 percent contained. The crews expect to reach 50 percent containment by this evening. Cause: Lightning strike Vegetation: Juniper, grass and […]
Continue readingNorthern New Mexico Type 3 Incident Management Team assumes command of the Black Feather Fire
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 […]
Continue readingAmerican Mesa Fire Morning Update
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. […]
Continue readingNew wildfire on BLM-managed lands in San Juan County
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 […]
Continue readingNew lightning-caused wildfire on Santa Fe National Forest
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 […]
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August 10, 2023 


