Acres: 720

Cause: Under investigation

Containment: 4%

Total personnel: 147

Structures Damaged: 4

Start Date: May 25, 2025

Location: Black Jack Pershing Rd. and Bonito Loop, Fort Stanton, NM

Fuels: Pinon-juniper, grass

Fire Update

Fire lines continue to hold. There was no fire spread overnight. Today fire crews will continue to secure the perimeter of the fire by removing burning material near the control lines to reduce the chance of it escaping control lines and reigniting. GIS mapping of the burned area is ongoing. Crews will be especially focused on the south side of the fire. Helicopters will continue to drop buckets of water on hotspots. Smoke will remain visible in the area.

The area affected by the fire is a specially-managed area by the BLM and the State of New Mexico. Fort Stanton, established in 1855, is one of the most intact 19th-century military forts in the country and is the best-preserved fort in New Mexico. It is one of the largest historical sites in the state. The 240-acre site and 88 buildings are best known for its roles in the Indian Wars and the Civil War. However, over its 160-year history Fort Stanton has also seen the lawless days of Billy the Kid, hosted patients at its hospital during the tuberculosis epidemic and became an internment camp for German sailors and Japanese Americans during World War II. Now it is accommodating firefighters as they work to contain the fire that nearly destroyed the site.   

Weather: Temperatures are expected to reach 75 degrees today with 12 mph winds. There is a chance of thunderstorms this afternoon which may bring rain but also lightning.

Evacuations and Closures: Fort Stanton is closed to the public. Rob Jaggers Campground, and the Rio Bonito and West Mesa Road dispersed camping areas are also closed. Highway 220 is closed in the Fort Stanton area. Closures and evacuations will be reassessed daily.

Fire Restrictions: BLM Roswell District, Lincoln County and the NM Forestry Division are all under fire restrictions or a burn ban. Campfires of any kind (wood, charcoal, wood stoves), chainsaw use, smoking outdoors, operating motorized vehicles off designated roads and outdoor welding are all prohibited.

Full fire restrictions information: https://www.emnrd.nm.gov/sfd/find-current-fire-restrictions/ 

Smoke: Individuals sensitive to wildfire smoke should take precautions and use the New Mexico Department of Health 5-3-1 Visibility Method to determine if it's safe to be outside. Learn more a at https://nmtracking.doh.nm.gov/environment/air/FireAndSmoke.html. An interactive smoke map at https://fire.airnow.gov/ allows you to zoom into your area to see the latest smoke conditions. 

More Information:

Lincoln County Emergency Management Fire Service Facebook: www.facebook.com/lincolncountyfireservice/ 

Fort Stanton Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1542361062890694/?_rdr