CIBOLA COUNTY, N.M. — Within days of one another, two wildfires ignited in Cibola County, proving a sobering truth: drought-stricken land, dry fuels, and warmer temperatures have created a volatile wildfire season this year.
The latest blaze, known as the Cinder Cone Fire, sparked May 11 near Quartz Hill in the Zuni Mountains – just 16 miles from the Village of San Rafael. Only two weeks earlier, the Alamo Fire tore through a Grants neighborhood, destroying six homes and injuring two firefighters.
With fire restrictions in place and drought conditions worsening, officials are urging the public to stay alert, follow burn bans, and take proactive fire safety measures as the season intensifies.
Quick Response to Cinder Cone Fire Averts Disaster
The Cinder Cone Fire broke out at 9:30 a.m. on May 11 in the Mt. Taylor Ranger District.
Cibola Fire Command was notified shortly after 10 a.m., arriving on scene by 11:25 a.m. Despite initial concerns, the fire was limited to 7.2 acres and fully contained within 24 hours thanks to a coordinated response from the U.S. Forest Service, Cibola County Emergency Services, Milan Volunteer Fire Department, and El Morro Volunteer Fire Department.
Cibola County Manager Kate Fletcher, who was out of state for Mother’s Day visiting her daughter and newborn grandchild, still made time to provide real-time updates.
“When you don’t hear from [Fire Marshal Dustin Middleton], it’s because he’s up there fighting the fire,” Fletcher told the Citizen. She praised the on-the-ground coordination, calling the response “sufficient,” but warned that wind and lightning remain real concerns.
Fire behavior was described as flanking and backing, with isolated torching in dense brush. No evacuations were ordered, though Fletcher advised residents in nearby subdivisions to trust their instincts: “If you feel like you should evacuate, do not hesitate.”
Six Grants Homes Lost in Alamo Fire
On April 27, the Alamo Fire erupted in an open field behind East Sage Avenue in Grants, fueled by dry grass and winds. Within minutes, the fire swept into the Balsam/ Sage neighborhood, consuming six homes, eight outbuildings, and causing two firefighter injuries. One cat perished in the blaze.
Grants Fire Chief Mike Maes confirmed the fire was human-caused and likely started in the field. “The lack of lightning is very suspicious,” Maes said. “It could have been accidental—but it was human caused.”
Power was cut to more than 370 homes as utility crews worked overnight to repair damaged lines. Local students and residents responded with fundraisers and donations to assist those affected.
The Alamo Tragedy came just as spring fire season began, offering a harsh reminder of how quickly dry conditions can turn catastrophic.
Drought Conditions as of May 12
As of May 12, 100 percent of Cibola County is in drought, with 58.35 percent now classified as Extreme Drought (D3)— the highest percentage of drought recorded in years.
This is a sharp rise from just two weeks earlier, when less than three percent of the county had reached that severity.
According to data from the National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS), April 2025 was the 56th driest April in 131 years, and the year-to-date ranks 2025 as the eight driest start on record, with precipitation down 1.91 inches below normal.
No snowpack remains at the Rice Park station in the Zuni/Bluewater River Basin, and water levels at Bluewater Lake continue to fall. Look to Page B2 for information on Bluewater Lake water levels and restrictions.
Meanwhile, 448 acres of hay, 30 acres of haylage, 10,281 cattle, and 3,026 sheep are now living and growing in drought-affected areas.
Fire Restrictions in Place
To reduce wildfire risk, Stage 1 Fire Restrictions are in effect across the Mt. Taylor Ranger District.
At Bluewater Lake State Park Stage 2 restrictions are in effect, and throughout Cibola County, the Village of Milan, and the City of Grants: Campfires are banned outside developed campgrounds.
Smoking is allowed only in enclosed vehicles or buildings.
Burning household trash is illegal and punishable by a fine up to $500.
All open burning is banned in Grants, Milan, and unincorporated areas of Cibola County.
Residents are urged to clear brush at least six feet from homes, remove dead vegetation at least six feet, and remain vigilant. Cibola fire officials have warned that even though vegetation can make a home look nice, it puts the house at a bigger risk for fire danger.
As Milan Fire Chief Daniel Urioste put it: “Even though we’ve seen some rain, it’s not enough. The ground is still primed to burn.”
Fire officials across Cibola agree: the risk is not theoretical—it’s happening now.
From the Cerro Bandera Fire in 2022 to the Encerrita Fire in 2024 and now the Alamo and Cinder Cone Fires, the pattern is clear. Fires are starting faster, burning hotter, and threatening more homes with each passing season.
According to the New Mexico Forestry Division, tree deaths have more than doubled statewide in 2024, with over 70,000 acres of conifer trees lost, many of them due to drought-stressed insect activity. Bark beetles and moths thrive in these conditions, especially in burn scar areas, which now dominate the landscape around Mt. Taylor.
With warmer weather ahead, high winds forecasted, and no significant precipitation in sight, local officials are emphasizing preparedness. Cibola County Manager Fletcher, Milan Manager Candi Williams, and fire leaders across the region are urging residents to take fire season seriously.
Why This Drought Is So Dangerous
At first glance, a label like “eighth driest year to date” might not sound alarming. But what it actually means for Cibola County is this: the ground is baked dry, there is no snowpack left to refill rios, lakes or reservoirs; every blade of grass, every pine needle, every fence post is a potential fuel source.
The drought gripping Cibola is not only widespread— covering 100 percent of the county— but it is now more severe than any point in the past three years. More than half the county is under “Extreme Drought” (D3) conditions. This means vegetation is dying, water sources are drying, and the land is more vulnerable to wildfire than almost anywhere else in the state.
And it's only May. There’s no cushion left. There’s no moisture hiding in the soil. A spark—whether from a lightning bolt or a carelessly tossed cigarette, or from an explosive like a firework—can become a firestorm in minutes. As we've just seen with the Alamo Fire and the Cinder Cone Fire, that threat isn’t hypothetical.
It’s already here. The Cibola Citizen will continue to monitor wildfire and drought conditions. To track fire and smoke in your area, visit fire.airnow.gov, and for updates on drought conditions, visit drought.gov.