Date/Time/Situation: The Alien Fire was discovered on September 22 at 2:30 p.m. and is located on the Creston Ridge just west of Las Vegas. The fire is burning in timber and grass and is exhibiting crowning and torching behavior. The fire is estimated at 65 acres and is zero percent contained. Heavy equipment crews are constructing fire line on the eastern flank. Structures are threatened within the fire’s one-mile radius. 

Resources: Crews are responding from Forestry Division, the US Forest Service, the City of Las Vegas and City of Santa Fe, San Miguel County, Cochiti Lake, and Angel Fire.

Weather:

 Currently, the temperature is 81 degrees with winds from the west/southwest at 7 mph; gusts up to 15 mph. Relative humidity is 10%. This evening calls for a decrease in winds to 5-10 mph. Tomorrow: mostly sunny, with a high near 79. Breezy, with a west wind 10 to 15 mph increasing to 20 to 25 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 40 mph.

Evacuations: The City of Las Vegas is evacuating residents east of the fire to the Abe Montoya Recreation Center, 1751 N Grand Ave, Las Vegas, NM 87701. 

Safety: Expect increased activity in the area and on local roads as firefighters and equipment move to new locations. Please stay out of the fire area to allow crews safe access to the fire.

Smoke: Individuals sensitive to wildfire smoke should take precautions and use the New Mexico Department of Health 5-3-1 Visibility Method to determine if it’s safe to be outside. Learn more at https://nmtracking.doh.nm.gov/environment/air/FireAndSmoke.html. An interactive smoke map at https://fire.airnow.gov/ allows you to zoom into your area to see the latest smoke conditions.

Internet/ Social Media: The public can continue to follow fires in New Mexico on InciWeb, New Mexico Fire Information. Fires can also be viewed through the New Mexico Forest & Watershed Institute’s Fire Viewer.