Wildfire Risk Reduction Grant Program Recipients Awarded

New Mexico Counties awarded over $530,000 to 11 grant recipients for community wildfire protection plan updates, fuel reduction treatments, and education efforts through the 2024-2025 Wildfire Risk Reduction Grant Program. Grant recipients include Ciudad Soil & Water Conservation District (education & fuel), Dixon Community Fire District (education), East Mountain Wildfire Preparedness Association (education), Grant County […]

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New Wildfire Start in Coyote Ranger District

Santa Fe National Forest fire managers respond to Indios Fire Santa Fe, N.M., May 20, 2024—Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF) fire managers were notified of a new wildfire start on Sunday, May 19, around noon in the Coyote Ranger District, located about 7 miles north of the village of Coyote, N.M within the Chama River […]

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Montoya Prescribed Fire Final Update

Canjilon, N.M., May 19, 2024 — Fire officials carefully considered the forecasted weather, fuel conditions, and resource availability when deciding to proceed with the Montoya Prescribed Fire that lies within the Canjilon Wildland Urban Interface Project. On May 17th, firefighters began ignitions of the 899-acre prosed unit and had 835-acres successfully completed the following day. […]

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Fire Ignitions Complete on East La Jara Prescribed Fire

East La Jara Prescribed Fire – Mt Taylor Ranger DistrictCibola National Forest and National Grasslands Yesterday, with hand and aerial ignitions fire crews completed ignitions on 807 acres of the remaining units. Crews will continue to secure the lines and mop up the perimeter. Fridays and Saturday’s fire operations accomplished the total 956 acres of […]

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Prescribed Fire Ignitions Completed Near Canjilon

Canjilon, N.M., May 18, 2024 @ 7 p.m. — After 2 days of successful firing operations, fire officials have determined there is no need to continue with hand and aerial ignitions on the Montoya Prescribed Fire. Firefighters completed 835-acres of the proposed total 899-acre unit within the Canjilon Wildland Urban Interface Project. Today, they focused […]

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Wildfire start in White Mountain Wilderness Area, Lincoln National Forest

On May 17, 2024, two lightning-caused fires were detected in the White Mountain Wilderness in the Smokey Bear Ranger District, Lincoln National Forest. The location and terrain of the fires, as well as their location within the Designated Wilderness Area, have led to the determination to monitor while allowing them to take their natural course […]

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Prescribed Fire Near Canjilon Continues Today

Canjilon, N.M., May 18, 2024 @ 9 a.m. — Fire officials determined that yesterday’s weather was the most advantageous to begin ignitions on the Montoya Prescribed Fire near Canjilon. Firing operations went well throughout the day, and they achieved 835-acres of the proposed total 899-acre unit. Today, firefighters will continue to monitor and hold the […]

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Fire Operations Continue on Mt. Taylor Ranger East La Jara Prescribed Fire

5/18/24 UPDATE: Fire operations continue today on Mt. Taylor Ranger – East La Jara Prescribed Fire of the Cibola National Forest and National Grasslands Yesterday, fire crews completed ignitions on 149 acres of the East La Jara prescribed fire within blocks 1, 2 & 3. Today, crews plan to continue ignitions on additional units within […]

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Prescribed Fire Outside Canjilon Began Today

Canjilon, N.M., May 17, 2024— After careful consideration of the current and forecasted weather, as well as the fuel conditions, fire officials determined that today was the best day to begin ignitions on the Montoya Prescribed Fire within the Canjilon Wildland Urban Interface Project. At 6:20 pm tonight fire crews finished burning 835-acres of the […]

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Crews Contain Medio Fire, Prepare for Prescribed Fire 

After assessing strategies for the Medio Fire, Carson National Forest fire managers decided to have crews fully contain it. The decision was based on numerous factors, including the fire’s location near the national forest boundary and prioritizing plans for prescribed fire in the nearby Montoya Unit.  The Medio Fire was caused by lightning and first […]

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Mt Taylor Ranger District to Implement East La Jara Prescribed Fire as early as May 17

Cibola National Forest & National Grasslands ALBUQUERQUE, NM – May 16, 2024 – Pending favorable conditions, fire managers on the Cibola National Forest & National Grasslands (NF & NGs) may implement the previously announced East La Jara prescribed fire (RX) on the Mt Taylor Ranger District as early as Friday May 17, 2024. Fire crews […]

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Fire Crews Respond to Medio Fire

Fire Managers are Evaluating Management Strategies Carson National Forest fire crews are on scene monitoring the quarter-acre Medio Fire, which is east of Trout Lake Roads (#125). The fire was caused by lightning and is creeping in the understory of ponderosa pine. Smoke is currently visible from Cebolla, N.M.  Fire managers are evaluating management strategies, […]

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National Park Service Planning Second Prescribed Fire at El Malpais National Monument

National Park Service Planning Second Prescribed Fire at El Malpais National Monument May 10, 2024 Contact: El Malpais Visitor Center, 505.876.2783, Lafe Sackett, 505.783.4290 Grants, NM – The National Park Service is preparing to conduct a prescribed fire on the north side of El Malpais National Monument which is tentatively scheduled to occur in late […]

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Crews Seek Opportunities for Prescribed Fire North and West of Tres Piedras

In addition to tentative plans for prescribed fire near Canjilon, Carson National Forest fire crews are working with meteorologists to identify potential timeframes for two projects near Tres Piedras, N.M. Ignitions on the Esquibel or American Creek prescribed fires could start as early as late this week, but they will ultimately depend on weather and […]

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Oakmont Fire – Final Update 5/5/2024

Situation: The Oakmont fire continues to display smoldering in the interior, but as of 1:15 p.m., all lines have held throughout yesterday evening and this morning. Containment remains at 30%. The Sacramento Hotshots will be released this evening, after the end of their shift. Forestry Division’s Rio Grande crew will remain through the evening and […]

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Oakmont Fire Update – 5/4/2024

Situation: Containment lines on the Oakmont fire held throughout the day, despite high wind gusts, hot temperatures and low relative humidity. As of 5 p.m. the fire’s containment is 30%. Total fire acreage has been downgraded to 65 acres, following a re-walk of the fire’s perimeter. Bulldozers are continuing to strengthen the containment lines and hand […]

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Oakmont Fire – Update 5/4/2024

Situation: As of 9:30 a.m., the Oakmont fire is zero percent contained and a GPS ground-truth assessment has defined its size as 120 acres. Crews worked overnight to patrol the fire’s edges and to extinguish smoldering materials using available water tenders. Hand lines were cut by the Interagency Hotshot Crews on scene.   This morning, bulldozers […]

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Oakmont Fire – Evening Update

Date/Time/Situation: As of 8:45 p.m., the Oakmont fire is estimated at 100 acres, and zero percent contained. A Type 3 IC has been ordered to take command, given the amount of resources and situational complexity. Otero County has released the county’s resources for the evening to be available for tomorrow morning’s actions. All roads in […]

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Oakmont Fire Update 5/3/2024

Date/Time/Situation: The Oakmont Fire was discovered at 12:28 p.m., Friday, May 3, 2024; it is located in Timberon, NM. The fire is burning in a mixture of pinon, juniper and pine fuels within a populated neighborhood with some structures threatened. The fire is exhibiting torching behavior, which means that it is moving primarily across the […]

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