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Flames and heavy smoke rise Saturday from a historic building at Fort Wingate east of Gallup. McKinley County fire crews fought the lightningcaused fire defensively because of the structure’s deteriorated condition and prevented it from spreading to neighboring buildings. The former Army barracks and boarding-school dormitory were considered a total loss. Courtesy Photo

Flames and heavy smoke rise Saturday from a historic building at Fort Wingate east of Gallup. McKinley County fire crews fought the lightningcaused fire defensively because of the structure’s deteriorated condition and prevented it from spreading to neighboring buildings. The former Army barracks and boarding-school dormitory were considered a total loss. Courtesy Photo

Lightning-Sparked Fire Destroys Historic Fort Wingate Building

Edith Iwan Cibola-mckinley County Master Gardener
Wednesday, July 29, 2026
Former Army barracks and boarding-school dormitory lost as monsoon storms continue across western New Mexico FORT WINGATE, N.M.
An Adventure on New Mexico Route 66, “One Good Thing.”

An Adventure on New Mexico Route 66, “One Good Thing.”

An Adventure on New Mexico Route 66, “One Good Thing.”

Roger Siegmann
Wednesday, July 29, 2026
GRANTS, N.M. - This adventure began a couple of weeks ago when I got a text message from the New Mexico Route 66 Alliance vicepresident Bruce Schaffer, the Alliance president Vickie Ashcraft had notified him of a request of the Alliance.
Evidence of the week's powerful monsoon storms can be seen across western Cibola County. Floodwaters left debris along NM 53 near Zuni (top), while high winds snapped and toppled trees in the Zuni Mountains (bottom). The storms brought much-needed moisture to drought-stricken forests but also caused flooding, road damage and other impacts across the region. Diego opez - CC

Evidence of the week's powerful monsoon storms can be seen across western Cibola County. Floodwaters left debris along NM 53 near Zuni (top), while high winds snapped and toppled trees in the Zuni Mountains (bottom). The storms brought much-needed moisture to drought-stricken forests but also caused flooding, road damage and other impacts across the region. Diego opez - CC

Monsoon Storms Prompt Forest to Lift Fire Restrictions

Diego Lopez, Editor
Wednesday, July 29, 2026
Weeks of flooding and rainfall ease wildfire danger, but officials say fire season isn't over CIBOLA COUNTY, N.M. – Just days after repeated monsoon storms brought flash flooding, road damage and emergency declarations across western New Mexico, the U.S.