Lightning sparks two new fires in Zuni Mountains, crews respond
Lightning started two small fires in the Zuni Mountains, with crews on the Foster Fire east of McKenzie Ridge and the Rose Fire already contained near McGaffey.
Fire crews were attacking two lightning-sparked fires in the Zuni Mountains on the Mt. Taylor Ranger District, with one start in Foster Canyon east of McKenzie Ridge and another northeast of McGaffey. The Foster Fire started June 25 at 6:37 p.m., was estimated at one-quarter acre, and was showing low fire behavior. The Rose Fire started June 26 at 8:10 a.m., measured one-tenth of an acre, and was 100% contained.
Forest Service resources on scene included Crew-32, Engine 622, Engine 353 from the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, and aviation support. Smoke from the June 26 fires could be visible south of Interstate 40 in the surrounding Zuni Mountains area, and the public should avoid the fire areas. Drone activity can force air operations to stop just when crews need aircraft overhead.
The new starts came as the Mt. Taylor Ranger District remained under Stage II Fire Restrictions, which began June 18 at 8 a.m. and are set to stay in effect until August 31 unless rescinded sooner. The order covers National Forest System lands in Cibola, McKinley and Sandoval counties. It prohibits campfires and many other fire-related activities and limits some equipment use during the day, tightening conditions for anyone camping, cutting wood or working in the forest during peak fire season.
The June 26 response followed another lightning-caused fire in the same mountain range, the Hausner Fire, which started June 8 at about 5 p.m. in Hausner Canyon southeast of the Zuni Mountains, about five miles northwest of Oso Ridge Lookout. That fire was estimated at two acres, burning in timber fuels with moderate fire behavior. The Cibola National Forest and National Grasslands spans 1.9 million acres, and its four sky-island ranger districts cover more than 1.6 million acres in New Mexico.
Forecasts called for additional showers and thunderstorms in the Grants area, a pattern that could complicate fire behavior and response in the days ahead.
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