Cibola National Forest and National Grasslands
Plans Prescribed Burning

Favorable weather conditions must be in place for hazardous fuels reduction work 

ALBUQUERQUE, NM – September 24, 2026 – The Cibola National Forest and National Grasslands is planning prescribed fires for this fall into winter as conditions allow. Certified prescribed fire specialists use prescribed fires to help remove excess vegetation, reduce wildfire risk, improve habitat, enhance watershed health and restore fire-adapted ecosystems.

Numerous projects are anticipated; however notification of the exact days of ignitions will depend on wind, weather, fuel moisture conditions and required approvals. The Forest Service will evaluate conditions in the days and hours before ignition. If conditions are not favorable, planned prescribed fire activities may be postponed or canceled.

Prescribed fires planned through fall into winter include: (See map attached)

Mt Taylor Ranger District - Office: 1800 Lobo Canyon Rd., Grants, NM 87020 (505-287-8833)

·   Monighan Rx Fire: 3,907 acres broadcast burning on the Bluewater Project is approximately 27 miles west of Grants, NM and 13 miles Southeast of Ft. Wingate NM within Zuni Mountains of Cibola National Forest. Smoke may be visible in the surrounding area of Ramah, Gallup, Thoreau, Bluewater, Grants and Millan, NM.

·   McGaffey and Quaking Aspen Rx Fire: 113 Acres broadcast burning located off highway 400 south, 7 miles of Ft. Wingate NM within Zuni Mountains of Cibola National Forest. Smoke may be visible in the surrounding area of Ramah, Gallup, Thoreau, Bluewater, Grants and Millan, NM.

·   McGaffey and McQue Flats Rx Fire: 1,665 Acres broadcast burning on the Puerco Project is approximately 63 miles from Grants and 13 miles Southeast of Ft. Wingate NM within Zuni Mountains of Cibola National Forest. Smoke may be visible in the surrounding area of Ramah, Gallup, Thoreau, Bluewater, Grants and Millan, NM.

Magdalena Ranger District – Office: 203 First St., Magdalena, NM 87825 (575-854-2281)

·   Ranch Supply Rx Fire: 2,890 acres of broadcast burning in the vicinity of Point of Rock Canyon and along FSR 220. Smoke may be visible from Magdalena, Alamo, and Datil, NM.

·   Durfee Bolander Rx Fire:  998 acres of broadcast burning in the vicinity of Morine Canyon. Smoke may be visible from Magdalena, Alamo, and Datil, NM.

·   Hop Patterson Rx Fire: 150 acres of piles located 3 miles south of Magdalena and adjacent to the communities of Hop and Patterson Canyon. Smoke may be visible from Alamo and Magdalena, NM.

Mountainair Ranger District - Office: 40 Ranger Station Rd., Mountainair, NM 87036 (505-847-2990)

·   Espinosa Rx Fire: 669 Acres of broadcast burning located on the Espinosa-Barranco Wildlife Improvement Project in the Manzano Mountains, approximately 8 miles northwest of the town of Mountainair in the southern half of the Manzano Mountains, in Torrance County, NM. Smoke may be visible from Mountainair, Punta de Agua, Manzano, and the Estancia Valley, NM.

·   Pueblo Colorado Rx Pile Fire Units 1 and 2: Up to 722 acres of piles in the Coordinated Resource Management Project in the Gallinas Mountains in Torrance County, NM. Located Southeast of Willard and 15 miles Northwest of Corona, NM. Smoke may be visible from Willard, Cedarvale, Corona or within the Estancia Valley, NM.

·   Thunderbird-Barranco Rx Fire: 972 Acres of broadcast burning located North of the Espinosa Prescribed Fire and south of FSR 275 in the Manzano Mountains, approximately 8 miles northwest of the town of Mountainair in the southern half of the Manzano Mountains, in Torrance County, NM. Smoke may be visible from Mountainair, Punta de Agua, Manzano, and the Estancia Valley, NM.

Sandia Ranger District – Office: 11776 Hwy. 337, Tijeras, NM 87059 (505-281-3304)

·   David Canyon Rx Fire: 285 acres of broadcast burning in the David Canyon area, in the Manzanita Mountains. David Canyon is located west of Hwy 337 and West of the Mars Court trailhead. Smoke may be visible from Albuquerque, Tijeras, Edgewood and Moriarty, NM.

·   Cedro Unit Rx Pile Fire: 15 acres of Piles within the Cedro unit the Sandia Piles Rx plan. The pile burn area is in the Manzanita Mountains. Cedro is located south FSRD 462, east of HWY 337. Smoke may be visible from Albuquerque, Tijeras, Edgewood and Moriarty, NM.

Kiowa & Rita Blanca National Grasslands – Office: 714 Main St., Clayton, NM 88415 (575-374-9652) 

  • 3,000 acres of multiple units of Rx fire broadcast burning across the district. Smoke may be visible from Clayton, NM and Felt, OK.

Black Kettle & McClellan National Grasslands – Office: 18555 Hwy 47A W, Ste B, Cheyenne, OK 73628 (580-497-2143)

  • 3,000 acres of multiple units of Rx fire broadcast burning across the district. Smoke may be visible from Roger Mills County, OK. 

The areas may be closed during project implementation for public safety. Watch for warning signs along roads near all prescribed fire areas before and during burns.

Residents may experience smoke during the prescribed burns. Go to https://fire.airnow.gov/  for more detailed information about air quality. When driving, slow down and turn on your headlights when you encounter smoke on the road.

Stay informed about scheduled prescribed fires through InciWeb, New Mexico Fire Information and on the Cibola NF & NGs website, Cibola Facebook and Cibola X sites. We will notify county emergency management officials when burning begins.