New Fire Start on Mount Taylor Ranger District
Four Mile Fire in Zuni Mountains
Albuquerque, NM – August 10, 2026 — Fire resources are actively engaged in suppression efforts on the Four Mile Fire on the Mount Taylor Ranger District within the Cibola National Forest.
Safety: The health and safety of firefighters and the public are always the first priority. Members of the public should avoid the fire areas.
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!"
Mount Taylor Ranger District- Zuni Mountains: Four Mile Fire
Reported Date / Time: August 9, 2026 / 1528 Cause: Undetermined. Size: 6 acres.
Location: Northwest Zuni Mountains, south of Jamestown and I-40, southeast of Fort Wingate, and north of McGaffey on the Mount Taylor Ranger District of the Cibola National Forest.
Responding Resources: U.S. Forest Service (USFS), McKinley County Fire, Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and aerial support.
Strategy: Direct extinguishment.
Fuels: Piñon-juniper and grass.
Fire Behavior: Active fire is spotting and wind-driven, moving southeast through grass and piñon-juniper fuels.
Operations: Ground crews on scene are securing anchor points and establishing control lines. Aerial resources are conducting targeted water drops.
Values at risk: Currently, the Four Mile Fire is not a threat to any communities, and there are no evacuations in effect.
Smoke: Smoke may be visible south of I-40, Jamestown, Thoreau, west of Bluewater and surrounding areas of northwest Zuni Mountains. An interactive smoke map at https://fire.airnow.gov/ allows you to zoom into your area to see the latest smoke conditions.
Weather forecast for Grants, NM (August 10, 2026): Scattered rain before 3pm, then scattered showers and thunderstorms after 3pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 93. North wind around 5 mph becoming west. Chance of precipitation is 30%. Tonight: Scattered showers and thunderstorms before midnight, then scattered rain between midnight and 3am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 61. West wind around 5 mph becoming north after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 40%. Tuesday (August 11, 2026): Scattered showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 3pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92. North wind around 5 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 30%. https://www.weather.gov/
Additional updates will be sent as new information is received.
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.
