Location: ¼ mile NW of Pinos Altos, NM I Size: 421 acres* I Containment: 20% Personnel: 195 I Start Date: June 20, 2023 I Cause: Under investigation Fuels: Slash, timber and brush *Size: adjusted from 423 acres back to 421 acres due to more accurate mapping SILVER CITY, NM, June 24, 2023 – As strong, […]

Upcoming Actions: Fire crews worked hard to successfully hold the Comanche Fire within its containment lines on Friday despite Red Flag conditions. This was possible due to the extensive planning and tactics implemented during the previous days. Increased smoke was due to interior burning. Fire managers continue to assess and plan for various scenarios in […]

Date/Time: The Chance fire is active on private land west of Ruidoso in Lincoln County. This human-caused fire was reported this afternoon around 12:20 and had 240 homes within a 1-mile radius of the fire start. The fire has burned 10.3 acres. Effective suppression efforts from the Forestry Division, Lincoln County Volunteer Fire Department, Ruidoso […]

BLM Las Cruces District Location: ¼ mile NW of Pinos Altos, NM I Size: 423 acres I Containment: 20% Personnel: 170 I Start Date: June 20, 2023 I Cause: Under investigation Fuels: Slash, timber and brush SILVER CITY, NM, June 23, 2023 – Firefighters have achieved 20% containment on the Rico Fire which is now […]

Information Phone: 575-388-8211 Hours 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Email 2023.Pass@firenet.gov Acres: 53,091                                                                                    Start Date: May 18, 2023 Location: 40 miles west of Winston, NM                                        Cause: Lightning Containment: 13%                                                                            Fuels: Timber, pinon/juniper and grass Personnel: 54 Yesterday’s reconnaissance flight showed minimal fire activity and no change in acreage on the Pass Fire. Firefighters worked along […]

Upcoming Actions: Yesterday’s operations were successful as fire crews continued to create depth in the containment lines on the east perimeter of the Comanche Fire focus area. With information from a meteorologist and other specialists, fire managers are halting firing operations today due to Red Flag conditions and forecasted west winds. Crews will focus on […]

Information Phone: 575-388-8211 Hours 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. email 2023.Pass@firenet.gov Acres: 53,091Location: 40 miles west of Winston, NM Containment: 13%Personnel: 54 Start Date: May 18, 2023Cause: LightningFuels: Timber, pinon/juniper and grass Last night’s infrared flight showed little to no fire activity on the slow-moving, low intensity Pass Fire, with just an acre of growth. […]

BLM Las Cruces District Rico Fire Update – June 22, 2023 Location: ¼ mile NW of Pinos Altos, NM I Size: 421 acres I Containment: 0% Personnel: 170 I Start Date: June 20, 2023 I Cause: Under investigation Fuels: Slash, timber and brush SILVER CITY, NM, June 22, 2023 – The Rico Fire has grown […]

Expected break in winds not developing  Despite favorable vegetation and fuels conditions, fire managers have decided to postpone the planned collaborative prescribed fire across the New Mexico-Colorado border. Fire personnel have determined that an anticipated break in the windy weather pattern is not going to develop in time to meet project objectives. Forecast windspeeds will […]

Upcoming Actions: Fire crews will continue hand ignitions along the perimeter edge, continuing work from yesterday where the northwest and eastern perimeters were blacklined. These actions help create depth on the containment line to keep the fire within the focus area. A meteorologist and other specialists are assigned to the incident to directly advising incident […]

Information Phone:  575-388-8211     Hours: 8 am-4:30 pm                    Email:   2023.Pass@Firenet.gov Acres:  53,900                                                                                        Start Date:  May 18, 2023 Location:  40 miles west of Winston, NM                                        Cause:  Lightning Containment: 13%                                                                            Fuels:  Timber, piñon/juniper and grass Personnel: 54 As of last week, the Pass Fire has continued a steady, slow to moderate movement, through an additional […]

BLM Las Cruces District Information Phone:  575-323-1533  Hours:  8:00 am to 8:00 pm Rico Fire Update – June 21, 2023 Location: ¼ mile NW of Pinos Altos, NM Size:  250acres                                                                       Containment:  0% Personnel:  142 Start Date:  June 20, 2023 Cause:  Under investigation Fuels:  Slash, timber and brush Evacuations:  In progress SILVER CITY, NM, June 21, […]

Upcoming Actions: Tuesday’s firing operations were successful. Fire crews began blacklining and will continue to strengthen the containment line along the focus area the next few days, with the possibility of helicopter aerial ignitions on Wed. or Thu. Fire managers continue to work closely with the meteorologist and specialists to assess conditions daily to ensure […]

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: HIGH (Rating Update)Mount Taylor Ranger District: ModerateSandia Ranger District: HIGH (Rating Update)Mountainair Ranger District: HIGH (Rating Update) The Fire Danger Rating is calculated by measuring the […]

Upcoming Actions: After assessing conditions, fire managers will proceed with firing operations. Today’s plan is to slowly bring fire along the containment perimeter to create a black line. Limited aerial firing to create depth on the lines will be conducted with an UAS, also known as a drone, which is equipped with a similar firing device […]

Ignitions will begin only if conditions remain favorable to meet objectives Conditions are becoming favorable to begin ignitions on the previously announced Bighorn/Stateline Project at the New Mexico-Colorado state border near U.S. Route 285. Weather and conditions permitting, crews will begin burning on or around Sat., Jun. 24. This 700- to 900-acre prescribed fire in […]

Upcoming Actions: Firing operations have been postponed again due to forecasted winds. However, fire managers, specialists and the meteorologist assisting with the Comanche Fire, will continuously assess the conditions of the focus area to determine if firing operations can begin Tue. Once conditions are advantageous for optimal fire behavior, ignitions can begin. This naturally caused […]

Ignitions on the Dorado/Cañada del Agua Prescribed Fire have been completed. 3,000 acres were treated in the project with low intensity burning across the forest floor that consumed dead and down surface fuels, like grasses and shrubs. Fire crews will be patrolling the area to watch for any heat near the perimeter. There will be residual smoldering, […]

Upcoming Actions: Fire crews will hold off firing operations to strengthen containment lines until Tuesday due to forecasted winds Monday. Fire managers and specialists, including a meteorologist, are closely monitoring weather and fuels for optimal conditions to commence ignitions on the naturally caused fire. The fire is staffed with over 150 people from federal, state and […]