New Mexico Forest Service News:
SANTA FE —The McCauley Springs Fire was detected this morning June 24, on the Jemez Ranger District and is approximately 30 acres.
Coordinating with the Sandoval County Sheriff’s Office, the community of Sierra de los Pinos is in “Go” status and currently under evacuation. Sandoval County has set up an evacuation center at Mountain Baptist Church in La Cueva and the Jemez Senior Center.
N.M. 4 is now closed at the main entrance to Valles Caldera National Preserve. Access beyond the closure is restricted to emergency vehicles and authorized personnel. Note: This closure is not located at the intersection of N.M. 4 and West Jemez Road as previously reported.
Motorists should avoid the area and plan alternate routes. Please do not travel into the closure area, as conditions may change rapidly and firefighting operations are ongoing.
Additionally, Jemez Falls Campground has been evacuated and closed, Battleship Campground is closed, and Trail #137 to Battleship Rock is closed for public safety.
The fire is being fully suppressed and is demonstrating a high potential for spread. The Santa Fe Interagency Hotshot Crew has been ordered to respond, along with two additional Hotshot crews. Two Type 1 helicopters and an Air Tactical Group Supervisor (Air Attack) have also been ordered.
Smoke is visible from Albuquerque, U.S. 550, Jemez Springs, and surrounding communities.
The Northern New Mexico Type 3 Team, currently assigned to the Rio Fire in the Espanola Ranger District, will transition and take command of the McCauley Springs Fire shortly.
Updates will be provided on the Santa Fe National Forest website, Inciweb, NM Fire Information, and social media pages (Facebook and X).
About the Forest Service:
The Forest Service has brought people and communities together to answer the call of conservation for more than 100 years. Grounded in world-class science and technology — and rooted in communities — the Forest Service connects people to nature and recreation opportunities. The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, supports the nation’s forest industry and energy needs, and operates the largest and most respected wildland fire and forestry research organizations in the world. By providing assistance to state and private landowners and working with tribes and other partners, the Forest Service also helps steward an additional 900 million forested acres within the U.S.