Manzano Mountains - Mountainair Ranger District
Mountainair, NM – August 29, 2026 — Crews are conducting scouting operations and constructing indirect fire line on both the east and west sides of the fire. The Incident Commander and operations personnel are conducting reconnaissance flights to assess fire size, movement, and behavior as it progresses through rugged terrain in and around the Jaramillo Drainage.
Reported Date / Time: August 21, 2026 / 1350. Reported by Capilla Peak Lookout.
Cause: Lightning. Size: 250 acres Containment: 0% Personnel: 131
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.
Fuels: Mixed conifer. Fire Behavior: Moderate
Operations: Hand crews on the west side of the Manzano Mountains are constructing indirect fire lines from the Comanche Trail and conducting preparation work around the trailhead and along the length of the trail. This work is being completed as a contingency should the fire back down the drainage toward these prepared areas. A dozer has arrived in the operations area and will begin constructing contingency line on Forest Service lands outside the wilderness boundary, including around private inholdings to support infrastructure protection efforts. A grader crew has arrived and is conducting road improvement operations to facilitate better access to forward operating bases.
On the east side, hand crews and an engine continue to scout and construct indirect contingency line extending down from the ridgeline near the New Canyon. Crews are tying constructed line into rocky outcroppings and other natural features that can serve as barriers to fire spread. East-side resources have also cleared vegetation and constructed line around communication and fire lookout infrastructure, sensitive archaeological sites, Capilla Peak Campground, springs, and other values at risk near the fire should it move in that direction.
An Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) has been established near Capilla Peak and will conduct reconnaissance flights over the Whiskey Fire. The UAS will provide crews with current information on fire activity, terrain, and conditions in areas that are difficult to access from the ground, supporting operational planning and firefighter decision-making. There is a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) over the fire. Unauthorized aircraft, including drones, are prohibited from entering this airspace.
Smoke may be visible from Belen, Bosque Farms, El Cerro Mission, Las Maravillas, Los Lunas, Manzano, Meadow Lake, Mountainair, Peralta, Rio Communities, Torreon, and Valencia.
Area, Road and Trail Closure Order in effect for National Forest System (NFS) lands surrounding the Whiskey Fire (03-03-04-26-18) and Cerro & Blanco Fire (03-03-04-26-19). Road closure barricades are on Trigo Springs Road. Review the closure orders here: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r03/cibola/alerts.
Weather for Mountainair, NM (August 29, 2026) Hot and dry conditions are expected around Mountainair today, with highs near 90°F, minimum RH around 20%, and southwest winds 8–10 mph with gusts to 17 mph. Isolated thunderstorms may develop, with gusty and erratic outflow winds posing the primary operational concern for changing fire behavior. Overnight RH recovery is expected near 65–70%
Safety: The health and safety of firefighters and the public are always the first priority. In order to facilitate safe and efficient suppression efforts the public is asked to avoid the fire areas and adjoining trails.
Notice: Privately owned aircraft and 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!"
About the Forest Service: The Forest Service has brought people and communities together to answer the call of conservation for more than 100 years. Grounded in world-class science and technology — and rooted in communities — the Forest Service connects people to nature and recreation opportunities. The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, supports the nation's forest industry and energy needs, and operates the largest and most respected wildland fire and forestry research organizations in the world. By providing assistance to state and private landowners and working with tribes and other partners, the Forest Service also helps steward an additional 900 million forested acres within the U.S.
