Lightning Sparks Gallo Fire in Manzano Mountain Wilderness

Small blaze burning east of Gallo Peak; smoke may be visible from Manzano and Torreon

MOUNTAINAIR, N.M. — A lightning strike ignited a small wildfire Thursday morning in the Manzano Mountain Wilderness, the latest in a series of lightning-caused fires to hit the range this year as monsoon storms move through central New Mexico.

The U.S. Forest Service (USFS) reported the Gallo Fire at approximately 11:00 AM MDT on Thursday, July 16, 2026. The fire is burning east of Gallo Peak within the Mountainair Ranger District of the Cibola National Forest, roughly 5.2 miles west-southwest of Manzano.

The fire was estimated at one-tenth of an acre as of Thursday, Perea said. USFS personnel are the only resource currently assigned to the incident. Containment figures were not available at the time of this report.

Residents in Manzano, Torreon, and surrounding communities on the east side of the Manzano Mountains may see smoke from the area, according to the Forest Service.

Thursday's fire follows a similar pattern to the Ox Fire, a lightning-caused blaze that broke out in the same wilderness area in late June and was contained within a day at roughly half an acre. Small, lightning-sparked starts have become a near-weekly occurrence in the Manzanos since the monsoon season began, and the Forest Service has continued to respond quickly to keep them from growing.

Torrance County residents are also encouraged to sign up for TextMyGov emergency alerts to receive real-time notifications tailored to their needs:

• Text TORRANCE COUNTY to 80946 for general notifications and emergency alerts.
• Text TORRANCE FIRE ALERTS to 80946 for information on prescribed burns or active fires in the area.
• Text TORRANCE NWS to 80946 to receive weather-related alerts.

Updates on the Gallo Fire and other active incidents in the forest are available on the Cibola National Forest and National Grasslands fire information page.