Fire Restrictions Lifted on Kiowa and Rita-Blanca National Grasslands
Effective Friday, September 25
(Albuquerque, NM, September 25, 2026) – Due to weather patterns and increased moisture, fire officials on the Cibola National Forest are lifting fire restrictions for the Kiowa and Rita-Blanca National Grasslands effective Friday, September 25, 2026 at 8:00 a.m.
Fire restrictions are implemented to reduce the risk of human-caused wildfires during periods of extreme fire danger and elevated fire weather conditions. The decision to lift fire restrictions was made based on fuel moisture levels and the amount of precipitation received on the Kiowa and Rita-Blanca National Grasslands.
Visitors and partners are reminded that fire prevention remains a shared responsibility.
Fire Prevention Reminders:
• Avoid building campfires if weather conditions are dry, hot, or windy.
• It is illegal to leave a campfire unattended. If you have a campfire, fully extinguish it before leaving. Use plenty of water to drown the coals, stir the water and coals together, and use the back of your hand to ensure all heat sources have been extinguished.
• Fireworks are always prohibited on National Forest lands.
• Be careful with cigarettes: extinguish and dispose of them properly.
• Refrain from parking hot vehicles over tall vegetation, which can cause spot fires.
• Do not drag chains behind vehicles as the sparks generated are a fire hazard.
For more information contact:
Kiowa/Rita Blanca National Grasslands: 714 Main St., Clayton, NM 88415 (575-374-9652)
Fire Restriction orders are posted on the Cibola National Forest and National Grasslands website at: www.fs.usda.gov/r03/cibola/alerts .
About the Forest Service: The Forest Service has brought people and communities together to answer the call of conservation for more than 100 years. Grounded in world-class science and technology — and rooted in communities — the Forest Service connects people to nature and recreation opportunities. The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, supports the nation's forest industry and energy needs, and operates the largest and most respected wildland fire and forestry research organizations in the world. By providing assistance to state and private landowners and working with tribes and other partners, the Forest Service also helps steward an additional 900 million forested acres within the U.S.
