Whiskey Fire Crosses to East Side of Manzano Mountains, Grows to 432 Acres as Containment Holds at 42 Percent
MOUNTAINAIR, N.M. — The Whiskey Fire pushed over the crest of the Manzano Mountains onto the east side of the range, as hot and dry conditions drove increased fire activity within the Manzano Mountain Wilderness, the U.S. Forest Service reported Friday, September 11, 2026. The fire has also advanced north into Jaramillo Canyon.
The blaze was last estimated at 432 acres, up from 393 acres reported in the Mountainair Dispatch's September 9, 2026 update, when management had just transferred from a Type 3 incident team to the Mountainair Ranger District's smaller Type 4 organization. Containment remained at 42 percent, unchanged from that report, despite the fire's growth and its move across the ridgeline.
Suppression effort splits between two sides of the range
Forest Service officials said crews cannot safely access the fire's west side, where it continues to burn in steep, inaccessible terrain within the wilderness. On the east side, firefighters are engaged in direct suppression with aerial support. Fuels are mapped as mixed conifer, and officials rated current fire behavior as moderate.
Fire managers said critically dry fuels, poor overnight humidity recovery, and the area's steep terrain are expected to keep supporting active fire behavior and growth in the days ahead. Officials described their approach as strategic operations "incorporating the realities of the landscape and conditions for full suppression."
The fire was first reported August 21, 2026, at 1:50 PM MDT by the Capilla Peak Lookout and was caused by lightning. It is burning in steep terrain north of Osha Peak, south of Capilla Peak, and west of the Manzano Crest Trail, within the Mountainair Ranger District of the Cibola National Forest.
Smoke visible across a wide stretch of the Rio Grande Valley
The Forest Service said smoke from the Whiskey Fire may be visible from Belen, Bosque Farms, El Cerro Mission, Las Maravillas, Los Lunas, Meadow Lake, Valencia, Peralta, Rio Communities, Mountainair, Torreon, and Manzano.
Closures and safety notices remain in effect
An area, road, and trail closure order (03-03-04-26-21) covers National Forest System land surrounding the fire. Residents and visitors can review the closure boundaries through the Cibola National Forest's alerts page.
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.
Update, Sep. 12, 2026: Reader Krystyn Nuñez pointed out that the fire crossed over into New Canyon on August 30, 2026, meaning this is not the first time the Whiskey Fire crossed to the east side of the mountains.