Acres: 720

Cause: Under investigation

Containment: 4%

Total personnel: 96

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

Crews were able to better map the fire perimeter today and the new total acreage is 720. Most of the burned acres occurred yesterday as there was minimal fire spread today. Fire lines continue to hold. Helicopters made targeted water drops on hot spots still smoldering. Fire crews worked to remove burning material near the control lines to reduce the chance of it escaping control lines and reigniting. Smoke could still be seen in the area.

The area affected by the fire is a specially managed area by the BLM and the State of New Mexico. The BLM-managed land is part of the Fort Stanton- Snowy River Cave National Conservation Area, and the state land involved in the fire is the historic fort, managed by the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs. Three historical structures were damaged at Fort Stanton, including two wooden structures from the 1930s built by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and a gymnasium built in 1944 by German sailors who were picked up after their ship sunk. One other outbuilding was damaged in the fire. Fort Stanton is one of the most intact 19th-century military forts in the country and is the best-preserved fort in New Mexico. The earliest known firefighters in the area were the Buffalo Soldiers in the 1870s who also contended with wildfires.

Weather: Cloud cover, moderate temperatures and milder winds helped to moderate fire behavior today. A thunderstorm warning is in effect for the area tonight. There is a chance of rain again tomorrow afternoon.

Evacuations and Closures: Evacuations remain for the Fort Stanton, Rob Jaggers Campground, and the Rio Bonito and West Mesa Road dispersed camping areas. Fort Stanton is closed to the public. 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 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 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