Three Lightning-Caused Fires Held in Zuni Mountains as Heat Returns

  • Smoke rises from the five-acre Notches Fire in the southcentral Zuni Mountains on July 30. The lightning-caused fire was burning west of NM 612 and north of NM 53, where crews reported no new growth and continued reinforcing containment lines and extinguishing interior hot spots. Photo Courtesy U.S. Forest Service
    Smoke rises from the five-acre Notches Fire in the southcentral Zuni Mountains on July 30. The lightning-caused fire was burning west of NM 612 and north of NM 53, where crews reported no new growth and continued reinforcing containment lines and extinguishing interior hot spots. Photo Courtesy U.S. Forest Service
  • A light column of smoke marks the six-acre Rock Springs Fire in the central Zuni Mountains near Little Water Canyon on July 30. The lightning-caused fire was burning west of NM 612 and north of NM 53, with firefighters using direct suppression tactics and reporting no new growth. Photo Courtesy U.S. Forest Service
    A light column of smoke marks the six-acre Rock Springs Fire in the central Zuni Mountains near Little Water Canyon on July 30. The lightning-caused fire was burning west of NM 612 and north of NM 53, with firefighters using direct suppression tactics and reporting no new growth. Photo Courtesy U.S. Forest Service

    Final updates issued after active monsoon week brings both flooding and new fire starts 

    CIBOLA COUNTY, N.M. – Firefighters have stopped the growth of three lightning-caused fires in the Zuni Mountains following a week of monsoon storms that brought both widespread rainfall and new wildfire starts to western New Mexico.

    The U.S. Forest Service issued final updates for the Barometer, Rock Springs and Notches fires on the Mount Taylor Ranger District. Together, the three fires burned slightly more than 11 acres.

    The Barometer Fire was reported shortly before noon July 31 in the northern Zuni Mountains, south of Jamestown, east of Mc-Gaffey and south of Interstate 40. The fire burned approximately one-tenth of an acre in timber and grass and was reported 100% contained.

    A Cibola National Forest engine used direct suppression tactics on the fire. Officials described fire behavior as low and said no additional growth was reported. Residual smoke may remain visible from Jamestown, Thoreau and areas south of Interstate 40.

    The Rock Springs Fire, reported late July 28 near Little Water Canyon, remained at approximately six acres. The fire was located west of NM 612 and north of NM 53 in the central Zuni Mountains.

    The Notches Fire, reported July 29 in the southcentral Zuni Mountains, remained at approximately five acres. It was also located west of NM 612 and north of NM 53.

    Forest officials reported no new growth on either fire. Crews continued reinforcing containment lines and extinguishing interior hot spots before issuing the final updates. Smoke from both fires may remain visible west of Ramah and El Morro.

    The fires developed during an active stretch of monsoon weather that produced repeated thunderstorms, flash flooding and road damage across western Cibola County. The same storms that increased fuel moisture and allowed fire restrictions to be lifted on the Mount Taylor Ranger District also produced lightning capable of starting new fires.

    Conditions have since shifted back toward hot and relatively dry weather.

    Grants was forecast to reach approximately 97 degrees Monday, with little chance of rainfall. Temperatures are expected to remain in the 90s throughout the week, while storm chances generally stay limited.

    Despite the recent rainfall, drought remains widespread. The latest data show all of Cibola County remains in drought, with 95.37% classified in Extreme Drought and the remaining 4.63% in Severe Drought.

    The Forest Service has not announced additional updates for the three fires unless conditions change. Residents may continue to see smoke from interior hot spots, but the agency reported no continued growth.