| Mountainair Ranger District Capilla Prescribed Fire, October 24, UpdateNM Fire Information

October 24, 2024 – Today, fire managers in the Cibola National Forest & National Grasslands (NF&NG) successfully implemented Capilla Prescribed Fire (Rx) in the Mountainair Ranger District. Weather conditions were favorable for ground and air ignitions. Due to the success of the day, minimal combustion is expected tomorrow or over the weekend, although there may be small pockets of fuel inside that will need to be ignited. Due to light winds overnight, smoke inversion is possible, particularly throughout the Estancia Valley. This can cause the smoke to settle in surrounding communities instead of spreading. However, it is expected to dissipate as daytime temperatures rise.

Firefighters were able to burn approximately 570 acres as of 7:30 this morning. The Capilla Fuels Reduction and Restoration Project in the Manzano Mountains is located approximately 10 miles northwest of the town of Mountainair in the southern half of the Manzano Mountains in Torrance County, New Mexico.

Smoke may be visible from Mountainair, Punta de Agua, Manzano, Torreon and Estancia Valley. Visitors to the Red Canyon Campground as well as the Red Canyon, Spruce Spring, New Canyon and Crest Trails could be affected. There are no road or area closures in effect at this time. The Cibola NF&NGs fights all prescribed fires in compliance with the State of New Mexico’s air quality and smoke management regulations. However, at night smoke can settle in drains and lower areas. Information about air quality and protecting your health can be found online at

The goals of the Capilla Rx include, but are not limited to, improving wildlife habitat by creating diverse vegetation, controlling and efficiently reintroducing fires into the ecosystem, and reducing fuel loads or raising the canopy base while reducing the likelihood of crown fire to ensure the safety of all fire department personnel and the public.

Our land management strategy focuses on long-term forest health, including reducing forest fuels and using prescribed fire across the landscape. Prescribed fires are intended to reduce the buildup of hazardous fuels caused by drought, climate change, insects and disease, and decades of fire suppression. Additionally, fire managers use prescribed fires to improve forest health, remove hazardous fuels, increase firefighter safety, improve wildlife habitat, and protect communities and watersheds. Prescribed fires are designed to achieve specific objectives and are always managed with firefighters and public safety in mind.

Implementation announcements and updates on prescribed fire projects will be posted on InciWeb, New Mexico Fire Information and on the Cibola NF&NGs website, Cibola Facebook and Cibola Twitter Websites.

If you would like specific information, please contact the Mountainair Ranger District Office at (505) 847-2990 or the Cibola NF&NG Supervisor’s Office at (505) 346-3900.