Prescribed Fire Projects Announced for Fall through Winter 2025

ALBUQUERQUE, NM – Sept. 26, 2025 – The Cibola National Forest and National Grasslands are planning prescribed fire operations this fall, as early as September 30th through December, pending all required approvals.
See attached map. We estimate this work to continue through the fall and early winter as weather conditions allow. Prescribed (Rx) fire helps reduce overgrown vegetation to protect local communities, infrastructure and natural resources from catastrophic wildfires.

Prescribed fire planned as early as September 30:

Mountainair Ranger District:

• Pueblo Colorado Prescribed Pile Burn Units 1 and 2: Up to 722 acres of piles in the Coordinated Resource Management Project in the Gallinas Mountains in Torrance County, NM. Located Southeast of Willard and 15 miles Northwest of Corona, NM Smoke may be visible from Willard, Cedarvale, Corona or within the Estancia Valley.

Prescribed fires planned as early as October 13 through December include:

Mt Taylor Ranger District:

• Monighan Prescribed Fire: 3,907 acres broadcast burning on the Bluewater Project is approximately 27 miles west of Grants and 13 miles Southeast of Ft. Wingate NM within Zuni Mountains of Cibola National Forest. Smoke may be visible in the surrounding areas of Ramah, Gallup, Thoreau, Bluewater, Grants and Millan.
• Black Mesa Prescribed Fire: 11,506 acres broadcast burning on the Black Mesa Wildlife Habitat Improvement Project 20 miles North of Grants, NM, in Mckinley, and Sandoval Counties of Cibola National Forest. Smoke may be visible in the surrounding areas of Grants, Albuquerque, Cuba, Jemez, NM 550, and possible I-40.

Magdalena Ranger District:

• Ranch Supply Prescribed Fire: 2,890 acres of broadcast burning in the vicinity of Point of Rock Canyon and along FSR 220. Smoke may be visible from Magdalena, Alamo, and Datil, NM.
• Durfee Bolander Prescribed Fire: 998 acres of broadcast burning in the vicinity of Morine Canyon. Smoke may be visible from Magdalena, Alamo, and Datil, NM.
• Hop Patterson Prescribed Fire: 704 acres of broadcast and pile burning units located 3 miles south of Magdalena and adjacent to the communities of Hop and Patterson Canyon. Smoke may be visible from Magdalena and Alamo. 

Mountainair Ranger District:

• Espinosa Prescribed Fire: 2,012 Acres of broadcast burning located on the Espinosa-Barranco Wildlife Improvement Project in the Manzano Mountains, approximately 8 miles northwest of the town of Mountainair in the southern half of the Manzano Mountains, in Torrance County, NM. Smoke may be visible from Mountainair, Punta de Agua, Manzano, and the Estancia Valley.
• Thunderbird-Barranco Prescribed Fire: 972 Acres of broadcast burning located North of the Espinosa Prescribed Fire and south of FSR 275 in the Manzano Mountains, approximately 8 miles northwest of the town of Mountainair in the southern half of the Manzano Mountains, in Torrance County, NM. Smoke may be visible from Mountainair, Punta de Agua, Manzano, and the Estancia Valley.
• Red Canyon Campground Prescribed Pile Burn: 48 acres of piles in the Hazard Tree Mitigation Project located adjacent to Upper Red canyon Campground in the Manzano Mountains, approximately 12 miles northwest of the town of Mountainair in the southern half of the Manzano Mountains, in Torrance County, NM. Smoke may be visible from Mountainair, Punta de Agua, Manzano, or the Estancia Valley. 

Sandia Ranger District:

• David Canyon Prescribed Fire: 285 acres of broadcast burning in the David Canyon area, in the Manzanita Mountains. David Canyon is located west of Hwy 337 and West of the Mars Court trailhead. Smoke may be visible from Albuquerque, Tijeras, Edgewood and Moriarty, NM.
• Cedro Unit Prescribed Pile Burn: 15 acres of piles within the Cedro unit in the Sandia Piles Rx plan. The pile burn area is in the Manzanita Mountains. Cedro is located south FSRD 462, east of HWY 337. Smoke may be visible from Albuquerque, Tijeras, Edgewood and Moriarty, NM.
• Sulphur Unit Prescribed Pile Burn: 18 acres of piles within the Sulphur unit in the Sandia Piles Rx plan. The pile burn area is in the Sandia east mountains, north of I-40, west of NM-14 and south of NM-536. Smoke may be visible in the surrounding areas of Albuquerque, Tijeras, Edgewood and Moriarty, NM.

Kiowa & Rita Blanca National Grasslands:  

• 3,000 acres of multiple units of prescribed fire broadcast burning across the district. Smoke may be visible from Clayton, New Mexico and Felt, OK.

Black Kettle & McClellan National Grasslands:

• 3,000 acres of multiple units of prescribed fire broadcast burning across the district. Smoke may be visible from Roger Mills County, OK.  

These areas may close during project implementation for public safety. Watch for warning signs along roads near all prescribed fire areas before and during burns.

Residents may experience smoke during the prescribed burns. Go to https://fire.airnow.gov/ for more detailed information about air quality. When driving, slow down and turn on your headlights when you encounter smoke on the road.

Stay informed about scheduled prescribed fires through InciWeb, New Mexico Fire Information and on the Cibola NF & NGs website, Cibola Facebook and Cibola X sites. We will notify county emergency management officials when burning begins.