EMNRD-FORESTRY DIVISION

For the:

U.S. Forest Service
Cibola National Forest and National Grasslands
Magdalena Ranger District
Magdalena, New Mexico

Red Canyon Remains at 14,418 Acres

Magdalena, NM - For Immediate Release. The 14,418 acre Red Canyon Fire on the Magdalena Ranger District had minimal fire spread yesterday. The lightning-caused fire is located in the San Mateo Mountains, 2 miles southeast of Grassy Lookout and 27 miles southwest of Magdalena, NM.

Aerial ignitions continued yesterday to clean up interior pockets of unburned fuel on the southeast side of the fire. The fire continues to burn in pine stringers throughout the management area. Fire behavior continues to smolder and creep along the ground through grass and brush. The fire continues to provide for improved ecosystem health and resilience. As the Red Canyon Fire continues to burn, potential fire behavior and effects are continuously being assessed to insure incident objectives are being met. 85 fire personnel are assigned to the fire.

A local Type 3 Incident Management Short Team is managing the fire for multiple resource objectives. These objectives include improving wildlife habitat, protecting cultural resources, reducing hazardous fuels and returning fire to the ecosystem.

The weather forecast over the Red Canyon Fire calls for an increased chance of thunderstorms and wetting rain until Tuesday.

The local communities surround Magdalena, NM continue to experience drifting smoke and the afternoon and evening from wildfires on the Gila NF and wildfires in Arizona. Smoke continues to be visible from I-25 south of Socorro, New Mexico. The New Mexico Department of Health provides a visibility test to determine smoke impacts in your area on their website at: https://nmtracking.org/en/environ_exposure/fire-and-smoke/#xEPHT__fivemile__1329 .

The following Forest Roads (FR) are closed until further notice: FR 96; FR 138; FR 478A; FR 478B; FR 330; FR 331; FR 378, and FR 478. The following trails are closed: Trails 28, 31, 43, and 63. All the listed Forest Roads and trails are within the working boundaries of the Red Canyon Fire perimeter.