Osha Canyon Fire burns in Sandia Mountain Wilderness, 0% contained
Smoke from the 0%-contained Osha Canyon Fire could drift into Placitas and Bernalillo as crews battle the blaze near weekend trail country.
Smoke from the Osha Canyon Fire was visible over the northern Sandia Mountain Wilderness on Saturday, and people in Placitas and Bernalillo were warned to expect it as crews worked a 1-acre blaze that remained 0% contained. For Bernalillo County, the immediate impact was less about homes being threatened and more about a favorite mountain escape being temporarily unsettled, with hikers, trail users and weekend visitors urged to stay out of the area.
The fire was reported Friday at 1:22 p.m. on the Sandia Ranger District of the Cibola National Forest and National Grasslands, south of Placitas and west of Forest Service Road 165. Forest Service updates first estimated the fire at a half-acre, then later descriptions put it at about 1 acre. The cause was officially listed as undetermined, although one local report said a lightning strike was believed to have started it.
Firefighters responded with direct extinguishment tactics after aerial suppression, with a Type 1 helicopter and a large air tanker assisting ground crews. U.S. Forest Service Engines 652 and Prevention 4 were among the resources on scene, along with additional ordered crews. Questions remained about how quickly the fire was detected and how fast those resources were brought to bear after the initial report, especially with the blaze burning in mixed conifer fuels and being pushed by westerly winds.
Officials said the fire was not currently threatening any values at risk or nearby communities. Even so, smoke drifting from the Sandia foothills can quickly affect daily life in nearby neighborhoods, especially for children, older adults and people with asthma or other breathing problems. Residents near the mountains should keep an eye on official fire updates, stay indoors if smoke thickens, and be ready to follow any new instructions if conditions change.
The public was also told to avoid the area and to keep drones grounded, since drone activity can force air operations to stop when crews are trying to hold a fire in place. That warning matters in a place as heavily used as the Sandia Mountain Wilderness, which was designated in 1978, spans more than 35,000 acres and offers nearly 120 miles of trails. Forest Service materials describe the Sandias as one of the state’s most visited mountain areas, a refuge from urban pressure for a metro population of more than 700,000 people. Stage 1 fire restrictions on the Sandia Ranger District, in place from May 8 through Aug. 31, already limit campfires to developed sites and prohibit them at dispersed camping areas.
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