Incident Commander Robert Laeng, IC3 Information Phone: 575-388-8211Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.Email: Maribeth.Pecotte@usda.gov Acres: 59,904Start Date: May 18, 2023Location: 40 miles west of Winston, NMContainment: 32%Fuels: Timber, pinyon/juniper, and grassPersonnel: 140, 1 Type 3 Helicopter Containment on the Pass Fire has increased as fire crews accomplished work to secure containment lines along the southeastern […]
Continue readingPass Fire Daily Update for July 2, 2023
Gila National ForestIncident Commander Robert Laeng, IC3 Information phone: 575-388-8211Hours 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.Email Maribeth.Pecotte@usda.gov Acres: 59,704Start Date: May 18, 2023Location: 40 miles west of Winston, NMCause: LightningContainment: 12%Fuels: Timber, pinon/juniper and grassPersonnel: 140, 1 Type 1 and 2 Type 3 helicopters Yesterday, crews held and monitored Friday’s hand ignitions along the Iron Trail […]
Continue readingPass Fire Daily Update July 1, 2023
Gila National Forest Incident Commanders Robert Laeng, IC3, Dustin Roper IC3(t) Information phone 575-388-8211Hours 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.Email Maribeth.Pecotte@usda.gov Acres: 59,074Start Date: May 18, 2023Location: 40 miles west of Winston, NMCause: LightningContainment: 12%Fuels: Timber, pinon/juniper, and grassPersonnel: 140; 1 Type 1 and 2 Type 3 Helicopters Information Phone: 575-388-8211 Hours: 8 am-4:30pm Email: Maribeth.Pecotte@usda.gov Acres: 59,074 Start Date: May 18, 2023 Location: 40 miles west of Winston, NM Cause: Lightning Containment: 12% Fuels: Timber, piñon/juniper and grass Personnel: 140; 1 Type 1 […]
Continue readingCrews respond to fire on Lincoln National Forest
ARABELA, New Mexico, June 30, 2023 – The Ruby Mountain Interagency Hotshot Crew is responding to a 5-acre fire north of the Capitan Range, located on the Lincoln National Forest Smokey Bear District. The fire is currently in a remote location. Updates will be posted here.
Continue readingPublic Safety closure goes into effect for Pass Fire
MIMBRES, NM, June 30, 2023 – A road and trail closure goes into effect at 4:00 p.m. today, impacting several trails within and adjacent to the Pass Fire. The closure is necessary to protect firefighter and public safety in an area of active fire operations and heavy firefighter activity. “As the fire has marched southward, […]
Continue readingPass Fire Update for June 30, 2023
Acres: 57,670 Start Date: May 18, 2023Location: 40 miles west of Winston, NM Cause: LightningContainment: 12% Fuels: Timber, piñon/juniper and grassPersonnel: 140, 1 Type 1 Helicopter, 2 Type 3 Helicopters Fire activity and growth were minimal yesterday, with low to moderate fire behavior observed. The most active area of fire perimeter was along southwest corner […]
Continue readingFinal Comanche Fire Operational Update
Upcoming Actions: There is minimal fire activity today with some creeping and smoldering. Crews are working to mop up the western edge, cooling any hotspots. Suppression repair and rehabilitation continues as crews work to reduce erosion, reseed where needed, fix fences and close dozer lines. With fire activity decreasing, management of the fire will be […]
Continue readingBLM Farmington and Taos implement fire restrictions across public lands
Due to increased fire danger and prolonged drought, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is implementing fire restrictions in San Juan, Rio Arriba, Taos, Colfax, Union, Los Alamos, Santa Fe, Mora, Harding and San Miguel counties, as well as portions of public land in McKinley and Sandoval counties. The restrictions are effective immediately and will […]
Continue readingPass Fire daily update June 29, 2023
Information Phone: 575-388-8211 Hours 8:00 to 4:30 Email Maribeth.Pecotte@usda.gov Acres: 57, 523Start Date: May 18, 2023Location: 40 miles west of Winston, NMCause: LightningContainment: 12%Fuels: timber, pinon/juniper, and grassPersonnel: 133, 1 type 1 helicopter, 2 type 3 helicopters Infrared mapping from last night showed approximately 420 acres of fire growth and isolated heat at the southeast […]
Continue readingWildfire Preparedness is Year-Round: Celebrate with One Less Spark!
Every New Mexican knows the beginning of July may mark the start of monsoon season. With monsoons, comes lightning, and not always with rain. As Fourth of July weekend approaches, remember fireworks may be illegal to use where you are, and always illegal on federally managed lands in New Mexico no matter what day of […]
Continue readingFinal Update on Chavez Fire – Sandia Ranger District
Reported start date / time: June 28, 2023 / 0600 Cause: Lightning Strike Size: at 2:00 p.m. estimated to be at .10 acres. Location: Near the Faulty Trail, west of Cienega Recreation Area off Crest Highway, Hwy 536 on the Sandia Ranger District. Resources on scene: Forest Service. Fire behavior: Low intensity. Fuels: Timber and […]
Continue readingPass Fire Update for June 28, 2023
Information Phone: 575-388-8211; 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Email: Maribeth.Pecotte@usda.gov Acres: 57,100 (estimated) Start Date: May 18, 2023 Location: 40 miles west of Winston, NM Cause: Lightning Containment: 12% Fuels: Timber, pinon, juniper, and grass Personnel: 168 The Pass Fire showed minimal growth yesterday. Infrared flights have not been possible for the past two days; […]
Continue readingComanche Fire Update | June 28, 2023
Upcoming Actions: Fire crews are working with resource advisers to rehabilitate areas affected by fire management activity. Crews are focused on suppression repair work, including reseeding, fixing fences, installing erosion control features and closing dozer lines. Fire activity has reduced significantly, and crews continue to patrol by gridding for hotspots and cooling them for further […]
Continue readingLAST Rico Fire Update – June 28th
Location: ¼ mile NW of Pinos Altos, NM I Size: 328 acres I Containment: 70% Personnel: 141 I Start Date: June 20, 2023 I Cause: Under investigation Fuels: Slash, timber and brush This is the LAST daily update for the RICO FIRE SILVER CITY, NM, June 28, 2023 – This is the last daily update […]
Continue readingLightning Strike Fire Start on Sandia Ranger District
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 […]
Continue readingFire Restrictions in place for Lincoln National Forest
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 […]
Continue readingCibola National Forest & Grasslands Updates Fire Danger Rating for Districts
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 […]
Continue readingRico Fire Update – June 27th
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 […]
Continue readingComanche Fire Update | June 27, 2023
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 […]
Continue readingBLM New Mexico implements fire restrictions at Fort Stanton-Snowy River Cave NCA and Lincoln Tracts
Abundant dry fuels (grasses, shrubs, and trees) and a prolonged drought have prompted the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to implement fire restrictions on BLM lands at Fort Stanton-Snowy River Cave National Conservation Area and around the community of Lincoln beginning June 27 at 8 a.m., until further notice. The purpose of this action is […]
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July 5, 2023 


