Single Publication

Forest Service News Release

Santa Fe National Forest Manages lightning-caused Tanques Fire

Cuba Ranger District, Cuba, N.M., July 25, 2024— The lightning caused Tanques Wildfire, located in the northwest corner of the Cuba Ranger District, around 25 miles north of Cuba, NM, was first reported the morning of July 18. Currently, the fire is 13 acres, burning in ponderosa pine, pinyon-juniper, and oak. 

Santa Fe National Forest will manage the fire as a Type 3 incident with a confine and contain strategy.  This means crews will manage the fire within a predetermined area (confine) and use points to stop the fire’s spread (contain). To accomplish this strategy, crews will conduct firing operations using aerial and hand ignitions within a 7000-acre planned perimeter as early as July 25 and use roads, hand lines, and natural barriers as containment lines. 

The fire is burning in an area that has already gone through the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process and a landscape that has been thinned and treated with prescribed fire in the past. The primary objectives are to provide for firefighter and public safety and improve wildlife habitat. “Successful completion of this work will provide the elk and mule deer populations improved forage habitat for many years to come,” said Cuba District Ranger Patrick Petracca. 

Fire crews are working with stakeholders and mitigating any risk to private landowners in the vicinity. There are no risks to nearby communities and no evacuations will be required.  There will be a closure of roads around the planned perimeter of the project area during ignition operations.

Smoke may be visible from communities along Highway 112 including El Vado and Llaves, NM and from the Jicarilla Apache Nation Indian Reservation. View an interactive smoke map on AirNow Fire and Smoke Map. To learn more about smoke impacts visit Wildfire and Prescribed Fire Smoke Resources (nm.gov).

Fire Information

Contact Claudia Brookshire, Public Affairs Officer, Santa Fe National Forest

Phone: 505-607-0879 (available from 8:00 am to 7:00 pm)

Email: claudia.brookshire@usda.gov

Links: Santa Fe National Forest website, New Mexico Fire Info, Inciweb, and Santa Fe National Forest social media (Facebook and X). 

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