Update on Wildfires within Mountainair and Mt. Taylor Ranger Districts 062926

Update on Wildfires within

Mountainair and Mt. Taylor Ranger Districts

Ox Fire in Manzano Mountain Wilderness - Rivera Canyon Fire in Zuni Mountains
Trough Fire in Mt Taylor Mountains

Albuquerque, NM – June 29, 2026 — Fire crews continue with suppression and mop up operations on multiple lightning strike fires within Mountainair and Mt Taylor Ranger Districts.

 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!" 

Mountainair Ranger District- Manzano Mountain Wilderness: Ox Fire (Update)

Reported Date / Time: June 28, 2026 / 0956. Infrared (IR) flight detected.   

Cause: Lightning                                 Size: 1/4 acre.

Location: North of Manzano Peak, southwest of Ox Spring in the Manzano Mountain Wilderness within the Mountainair Ranger District of the Cibola National Forest. 

Resources on scene: U.S. Forest Service –Magdalena Ranger District Apache Kid Wildland Fire Module and Idaho Panhandle National Forests Fire Module. 

Fuels: Heavy dead & down timber within tussock moth mortality area.

Strategy: Direct extinguishment.

Operation: No new fire growth from yesterday's response. Firefighters continue to reinforce containment and mop-up interior using hand tools to turn over soil and smother embers to cool hot spots and prevent reignition.

Residual smoke may be visible from Manzano, Punta de Agua, Torreon, Estancia Valley. and the surrounding areas of the east Manzano Mountains.

Photos attached: US Forest Service photo from Mountainair Ranger District Ox Fire in the Manzano Mountain Wilderness on June 28, 2026.

Mt. Taylor Ranger District- Zuni Mountains: Rivera Canyon Fire (Update)

Reported Date / Time: June 27, 2026 / 1757

Cause: Lightning.                                Size: 4 acres.

Location: Rivera Canyon in southeast Zuni Mountains, west of FSR 50 and north of NM 53 on the Mt. Taylor Ranger District of the Cibola National Forest. 

Resources on scene: U.S. Forest Service – Pike National Forest Engine 10-2 and Quartz Valley Engine 644.

Fuels: Ponderosa pine and oak.

Strategy: Direct extinguishment.

Operation: No new fire growth from yesterday's response. Firefighters continue mop-up using hand tools to turn over soil and smother embers while applying water from two wildland fire engines to cool hot spots and prevent reignition.

Residual Smoke is not expected to be visible.

Mt. Taylor Ranger District- Mt. Taylor Mountains: Trough Fire (Final Update)

Reported Date / Time: June 26, 2026 / 1747

Cause: Lightning.                                Size: 1/10 acre.                                    

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

Resources on scene: U.S. Forest Service – Cibola National Forest Engine 623 crew.

Fuels: Timber

Strategy: Direct extinguishment.

Operation: Firefighters continue mop-up using hand tools to turn over soil and smother embers to cool hot spots and prevent reignition.

This will be the final update on the Trough Fire unless conditions or the situation warrants additional information.

Weather for Albuquerque, NM: This Afternoon (June 29): Sunny, with a high near 92. Southwest wind around 15 mph. Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 67. South wind 5 to 15 mph. Tuesday (June 30): A slight chance of sprinkles after noon. Sunny, with a high near 92. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph increasing to 10 to 15 mph in the afternoon. https://www.weather.gov/

 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 03-03-03-26-06.

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.