Reported start date / time: March 18, 2025 / 1600

Cause: Undetermined. Size: Approximately 3-4 acres

Location: Manzano Mountains south of Ox Canyon within the 2007 Ojo Peak Fire scar on the MountainairRanger District – New Mexico - Cibola National Forest & National Grasslands. Approximately 7 miles west of the town of Manzano.

Resources on scene: USFS and Torrance County. Additional resources responding.

Fire Behavior: The Ox Fire is exhibiting active fire behavior driven by high winds.

Strategy: Full suppression.

Evacuations: No evacuations are currently in place.

Values at risk: No values currently threatened.

Containment: 0%

Fuels: Timber. Heavy dead and down.

Safety: The health and safety of firefighters and the public are always the first priority. Members of the public should avoid the Ox Fire area.

Drones pose a serious risk to firefighting and can cause air operations to cease. The public is reminded that "If you fly, we can't!"

Smoke may be visible in the surrounding areas including anything on East side of Manzano Mountains. Smoke-sensitive individuals and people with respiratory problems or heart disease are encouraged to take precautionary measures. An interactive smoke map at https://fire.airnow.gov/ allows you to zoom into your area to see the latest smoke conditions.

Weather: Winds tonight are predicted to be 30-40mph decreasing to 25-30 after midnight. Possible gusts up to 50mph. Temperatures dropping to 23°. Tomorrow's weather is predicted to be Sunny, with a high near 46. Breezy, with a northwest wind 20 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph. https://www.weather.gov/