Fire crews and air resources assigned to the American Mesa Fire made initial progress by increasing containment to 8% from 0% today. The fire, which is moving eastward, grew 50 acres from 400. It is located about 16 miles southwest of Dulce, N.M., on the Jicarilla Ranger District.  Numerous air tankers and helicopters worked the fire, […]

With the wildfires come smoke. Strengthening wind is currently pushing smoke from the American Mesa Fire to the east, which may affect areas along the New Mexico-Colorado border and as far south as Dulce, Chama, Tres Piedras and Questa. Other fires are contributing, too: the Lake Fire near Navajo Lake, the Dry Fire on the […]

The latest information on the American Mesa Fire: Fire updates are also posted on InciWeb and Carson National Forest social media channels (Facebook, Twitter).

Carson National Forest fire personnel, with the assistance of a large air tanker, are on scene of the 200-acre American Mesa Fire on the Jicarilla Ranger District, about 16 miles southeast of Arboles, CO. The lightning-caused fire is burning in piñon-juniper habitat. The fire is threatening natural gas infrastructure and is about four miles from […]

Incident Start Date: August 3                              Cause:  Lightning Size: 10-15 acres                                                     Incident Type: Wildfire   Vegetation Type:  Pinyon/Juniper                       Fire Strategy: Confine/Contain Fire Update: Crews from the Smokey Bear Ranger District are on-scene at a wildfire on the north side of West Mountain, near Forest Service Road 616. The lightning-strike fire originated on forest […]

Fire crews fully contained the Sierra (pictured) and Cedar Rock fires yesterday. They were the last of 10 lightning-caused fires over the past two weeks to be 100% contained. A full list of recent fires is available on the Carson National Forest website.

Incident Start Date: August 3                              Cause:  Lightning Size: 5 Acres                                                            Incident Type: Wildfire   Vegetation Type:  Pinyon/Juniper                       Fire Strategy: Confine/Contain Fire Update: Crews from the Smokey Bear Ranger District are responding to a wildfire on the north side of West Mountain, near Forest Service Road 616. The lightning-strike fire originated on […]

Carson National Forest and New Mexico Forestry Division crews responded to the Sierra Fire in El Rito Canyon, north of El Rito, NM, today. The 3/4-acre fire is 50% contained. It was caused by lightning on private land and spread onto national forest. It is creeping in mixed conifer understory. Over on the Jicarilla Ranger […]

Crews from the Smokey Bear Ranger District are responding to a fire on West Mountain on the Lincoln National Forest. The current size is 2 acres. Updates to follow.

Carson National Forest crews continued to respond to lightning-caused fires across the forest today. There’s been three new starts, all which have been fully contained, since last night’s update. Two of the new starts are on the Jicarilla Ranger District and another is northwest of Tres Piedras, NM. At this time, the forest’s fire management […]

The fire danger rating for three districts on the Cibola National Forest & Grasslands have been lowered from VERY HIGH to HIGH following recent rain activity. Black Kettle Ranger District: Moderate Kiowa and Rita Blanca Ranger District: Moderate Magdalena Ranger District: HIGH (Rating lowered) Mount Taylor Ranger District: HIGH (Rating lowered) Sandia Ranger District: HIGH […]

Carson National Forest fire crews are on scene of the Cedar Rock Fire on the Jicarilla Ranger District. The estimated 4- to 5-acre lightning-caused fire is located north of Forest Road 218 (Carracas Mesa Road), which is approximately 10 miles southeast of Arboles, CO, and 50 miles east of Farmington, NM (Google Map). Crews and […]

UPDATE: Incident Start Date: August 1                              Cause:  Lightning Size: 30 Acres                                                         Incident Type: Wildfire   Vegetation Type:  Pinyon/Juniper                       Fire Strategy: Confine/Contain Fire Update: On August 1, 2023, Crews responded to a fire in Crooked Canyon on the Guadalupe Ranger District, Lincoln National Forest. The fire originated on National Forest land, burning […]

Fire crews are on scene of two new lightning-caused fire starts: The 3-acre Manuel Canyon Fire (pictured) is located off Forest Road 312L (Manuel Tank Road) on the Jicarilla Ranger District, about 50 miles east of Farmington, NM. The 0.5-acre Canjilon Lake Fire is near Lower Canjilon Lakes. It’s burning surface fuels with low to […]

Fire crews have increased containment on the 1.5-acre Medio Fire to 30%. It is currently smoldering in ground fuels under ponderosa overstory. The lightning-caused fire is located southwest of Vallecitos, NM (Rio Arriba County) and was first reported on Jul. 30. There are no imminent threats to life or property. Approximate Location (Google Maps)

Carson National Forest fire crews are on scene of a lighting-caused fire west of Vallecitos, NM, in Rio Arriba County. The Medio Fire is over an acre with light to moderate rate of spread in ground fuels with occasional tree torching. Crews are using a suppression strategy due to fuel conditions, weather and availability of […]

Magdalena Ranger District – Cibola National Forest & National Grasslands Reported fire start date / time: July 23, 2023 / 1:00 p.m. Cause: Lightning          Size: 2,816 acres.          Containment: 50%. Location: Remote mountainous terrain of central west San Mateo Mts. on the Magdalena Ranger District – New Mexico on the Cibola National Forest & […]

ALBUQUERQUE, NM, July 30, 2023 – Crews are responding to two wildfires on the Cibola National Forest & National Grasslands that were sparked by lightning. Mountainair Ranger District: Capilla Peak Fire Start Date / Time: July 29, 2023 / 1710         Cause: Lightning         Size: 1 acres              Containment: 0% Location: East of Capilla Peak in the […]

Fire crews have contained, controlled and, as of this afternoon, declared the Bull Fire as out. The 0.10-acre lightning-caused fire, first reported on Jul. 22, was upslope from the intersection of the Lake Fork and Bull Creek trails in the Latir Peak Wilderness. The fire smoldered in surface fuels under spruce-fir. Rock scree and high moisture in surrounding […]

Magdalena Ranger District Reported fire start date / time: July 23, 2023 / 1:00 p.m. Cause: Lightning         Size: 2,816 acres.         Containment: 20%. Location: Remote mountainous terrain of central west San Mateo Mts. on the Magdalena Ranger District – New Mexico on the Cibola National Forest & National Grasslands. See Map. Strategy: Fire crews are managing […]