Resources Respond to Fires on Mt. Taylor and Magdalena Ranger Districts

Foster Fire in Zuni Mountains –Trough Fire in Mt. Taylor Mountains

Sawmill Fire in Magdalena Mountains

Albuquerque, NM – June 27, 2026 — Fire resources are continuing direct extinguishment of multiple fires that may have resulted from scattered thunderstorms on Thursday and Friday 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!" 

An infrared (IR) flight is planned for this afternoon for central and northern New Mexico zone. IR aircraft are used to detect new fires started by lightning when they are small.

Mt. Taylor Ranger District- Zuni Mountains: Foster Fire

Reported Date / Time: June 25, 2026 / 1837                    Cause: Lightning

Size: 1/4 acre.

Location: Foster Canyon in northeast Zuni Mountains and east of McKenzie Ridge on the Mt. Taylor Ranger District of the Cibola National Forest. 

Resources on scene: U.S. Forest Service – Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest Engine 353. Firefighters have transitioned to mop-up and securing the fire lines.

Strategy: Direct extinguishment.

Mt. Taylor Ranger District- Mt. Taylor Mountains: Trough Fire

Reported Date / Time: June 26, 2026 / 1747

Cause: Undetermined, but lightning was detected in the area.

Size: est. 1/4 acre.          

Location: Southern Mt. Taylor Mountains on the Mt. Taylor Ranger District of the Cibola National Forest.

Resources Responding: U.S. Forest Service – Cibola National Forest Engine 623 and Quartz Valley Engine E644.

Strategy: Direct extinguishment.

Smoke may be visible may be visible from northeast of Grants, NM and north I-40 in the surrounding areas of the southeast Mt Taylor Mountains.

Magdalena Ranger District –Magdalena Mountains: Sawmill Fire

Reported Date / Time: June 26, 2026 / 1322

Cause: Undetermined, but lightning was detected in the area.                              Size: 1/2 acre

Location: Remote mountainous terrain of southeast Magdalena Mountains on the Magdalena Ranger District – New Mexico on the Cibola National Forest & National Grasslands.  

Resources on scene: U.S. Forest Service - Wenatchee Valley Rappellers.

Strategy: Direct extinguishment.

Smoke may be visible southwest of NM60, Socorro, San Antonio in the surrounding areas of southern Magdalena Mountains.

An interactive smoke map at https://fire.airnow.gov/ allows you to zoom into your area to see the latest smoke conditions.

Additional updates will be sent if fire behavior significantly changes on these fires.

 Weather for Grants, NM: This Afternoon (June 27): Sunny, with a high near 89. Breezy, with a west wind 15 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph. Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 54. West wind 15 to 20 mph decreasing to 5 to 10 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph. Sunday (June 28): Sunny, with a high near 89. Breezy, with a southwest wind 5 to 15 mph increasing to 15 to 25 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 35 mph. https://www.weather.gov/

Red flag warning and fire weather watch through this evening and Sunday afternoon.

Fire Restrictions remain in effect on the Cibola National Forest and National Grasslands as previously announced: www.fs.usda.gov/r03/cibola/alerts

  • Mt. Taylor Ranger District: Stage II Fire Restriction Order 03-03-02-26-09
  • Kiowa/Rita-Blanca Ranger District: Stage I Fire Restriction Order 03-03-07-26-08
  • Mountainair & Sandia Ranger Districts: Stage I Fire Restriction Order 03-03-00-26-05
  • Magdalena Ranger District Stage I Fire Restriction Order 03-03-03-26-0.

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.