New Fire Starts and Updates on Wildfires
Magdalena, Mountainair and Mount Taylor Ranger Districts
Albuquerque, NM – August 1, 2026 — Fire resources are actively responding to suppress multiple fires that may have resulted from recent thunderstorms throughout central New Mexico.
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!"
Mountainair Ranger District- Manzano Mountain Wilderness: Sand Springs Fire (New Report)
Reported Date / Time: July 31, 2026 / 1538. Reported by Capilla Peak Lookout.
Cause: Lightning Size: 5 acres.
Location: Steep terrain north of Osha Peak, south of Capilla Peak and west of the Manzano Crest Trail in the Manzano Mountain Wilderness within the Mountainair Ranger District of the Cibola National Forest.
Resources on scene: U.S. Forest Service – Cibola National Forest Engine 641 and C651.
Strategy: Direct extinguishment.
Fire Behavior: Moderate spread potential.
Fuels: Timber and dead & down.
Smoke may be visible from Mountainair, Manzano, Punta de Agua, Torreon, westside of Manzano Mountains and east of I25.
Photo attached: U.S. Forest Service photo of Mountainair Ranger District – Sand Spring Fire on August 1, 2026.
Magdalena Ranger District- San Mateo Mountains: Grassy Fire (Final Report)
Reported Date / Time: July 31, 2026 / 1501. Reported by Withington Lookout.
Cause: Lightning Size: 1/10 acre.
Location: Remote mountainous terrain of eastern San Mateo Mountains on the Magdalena Ranger District – New Mexico on the Cibola National Forest & National Grasslands.
Resources on scene: U.S. Forest Service – Cibola National Forest Engine 632.
Strategy: Direct extinguishment.
Fire Behavior: Low.
Fuels: Timber.
Operation: Ground crews located 1 lightning-struck tree. Firefighters actively engaged the fire to stop fire spread using direct extinguishment strategy. Firefighters continue to construct containment lines.
Smoke may be visible from south of NM60, west of NM107 and southwest of Magdalena, NM.
Photo attached: U.S. Forest Service photo of Magdalena Ranger District – Grassy Fire on August 1, 2026.
Mount Taylor Ranger District- Zuni Mountains: Barometer Fire (Final Report)
Reported Date / Time: July 31, 2026 / 1156
Cause: Lightning Size: 1/10 acre. Containment: 100%
Location: Northern Zuni Mountains south of Jamestown, east of McGaffey and South of I40 on the Mount Taylor Ranger District of the Cibola National Forest.
Resources on Scene: U.S. Forest Service –Cibola National Forest Engine 623.
Strategy: Direct extinguishment.
Fire Behavior: Low.
Fuels: Timber and grass.
Operation: No new fire growth from yesterday's response. Firefighters are actively engaged in reinforcing containment lines and continuing to extinguish interior hot spots.
Residual Smoke: May be visible from Jamestown, Thoreau and south of I40.
Mount Taylor Ranger District- Zuni Mountains: Rock Springs Fire (Final Update)
Reported Date / Time: July 28, 2026 / 2259
Cause: Lightning Size: 6 acres.
Location: Central Zuni Mountains near Little Water Canyon, west of NM 612, north of NM 53 on the Mount Taylor Ranger District of the Cibola National Forest.
Resources on Scene: U.S. Forest Service –Cibola National Forest Engine 623 and aviation resources.
Strategy: Direct extinguishment.
Fire Behavior: Moderate spread potential.
Fuels: Oak and pine litter.
Operation: No new fire growth from yesterday's report. Firefighters are actively engaged in reinforcing containment lines and continuing to extinguish interior hot spots.
Smoke: May be visible west from Ramah and El Moro, NM.
Mount Taylor Ranger District- Zuni Mountains: Notches Fire (Final Update)
Reported Date / Time: July 29, 2026 / 1542
Cause: Lightning Size: 5 acres.
Location: South central Zuni Mountains, west of NM 612, north of NM 53 on the Mount Taylor Ranger District of the Cibola National Forest
Resources on Scene: U.S. Forest Service –Cibola National Forest Crew 3-2 and aviation resources.
Strategy: Direct extinguishment.
Fire Behavior: Moderate spread potential.
Fuels: Mix conifer and grass.
Operation: No new fire growth from yesterday's report. Firefighters are actively engaged in reinforcing containment lines and continuing to extinguish interior hot spots.
Smoke: May be visible west from Ramah and El Moro, NM
Updates on these fires will be sent if fire behavior significantly changes to warrant additional information.
Weather for Alburquerque, NM (August 1, 2026) Today: Scattered showers and thunderstorms after 3pm. Some of the storms could be severe. Sunny early, then becoming partly sunny and hot, with a high near 100. Light and variable wind becoming east 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 30%. Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 68. East wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light and variable in the evening. Sunday (August 2, 2026) Sunny and hot, with a high near 101. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph. https://www.weather.gov/
About the Forest Service: The Forest Service has, for more than 100 years, brought people and communities together to answer the call of conservation. Grounded in world-class science and technology — and rooted in communities — the Forest Service connects people to nature and to each other. The Forest Service cares for shared natural resources in ways that promote lasting economic, ecological, and social vitality. The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, provides assistance to state and private landowners, and maintains the largest wildland fire and forestry research organizations in the world. The Forest Service also has either a direct or indirect role in stewardship of about 900 million forested acres within the U.S., of which over 130 million acres are urban forests where most Americans live.
