New fire near Battleship Rock burns 30 acres, prompts evacuations
Smoke from a 30-acre fire near Battleship Rock was expected across Los Alamos County as evacuations hit Sierra de los Pinos and recreation sites closed.
Smoke from a new fire near Battleship Rock was expected to be visible across Los Alamos County as crews responded to a blaze that had already burned about 30 acres in the Jemez Mountains. Los Alamos County said there was no threat to Los Alamos, but the fire still affected nearby travel, air quality and outdoor plans as Sandoval Fire moved to the scene and officials urged residents to stay alert. NM-4 also became part of the disruption, with local reporting showing a closure from mile markers 27 to 40.
The U.S. Forest Service later identified the blaze as the McCauley Springs Fire, detected Wednesday morning, June 24, 2026, on the Jemez Ranger District near Battleship Rock. Federal fire managers said it was being fully suppressed and had high potential for spread. Sandoval County, working with the sheriff’s office, placed Sierra de los Pinos in Go status and evacuated it, while Jemez Falls Campground was evacuated and closed, Battleship Campground was closed, and Trail #137 to Battleship Rock was shut down for public safety.
Sandoval County also set up evacuation centers at Mountain Baptist Church in La Cueva and the Jemez Valley Senior Center at 8154 Highway 4. The fire’s reach into the Jemez corridor mattered well beyond the burn area itself, since smoke from the canyon can drift east and quickly change driving conditions, visibility and plans for people heading into the mountains from Los Alamos County. Even without a direct threat to town, the county said residents should treat the situation as active and changing.
By June 25, the McCauley Springs Fire had grown to 327 acres, showing how quickly the situation expanded in the first day after the initial 30-acre estimate. That growth also underscored why county officials pushed early warnings about smoke, travel caution and emergency readiness rather than waiting for conditions to worsen.
Los Alamos County has its own wildfire preparedness network in place, including a Wildland Division, Ready-Set-Go guidance and weather stations that can broadcast emergency announcements. The county also pointed residents who live, work, go to school or recreate in Los Alamos County to Everbridge alerts, which can be signed up for by text, QR code or through the county registration link.
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