ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – Firefighters are responding to multiple lightning strike fires as a result of Wednesday’s scattered thunderstorms on the Mountainair Ranger District of the Cibola National Forest and National Grasslands.
An infrared (IR) flight is planned for Thursday for central and northern New Mexico zone. The aircraft is used to detect new fires started by lightning when they are small.
Gallo Fire
- Reported Date: July 16, 2026
- Cause: Lightning
- Size: est. 1/10 acre.
- Location: East of Gallo Peak, in the Manzano Mountain Wilderness within the Mountainair Ranger District of the Cibola National Forest.
- Resources Responding: U.S. Forest Service.
Smoke may be visible from Manzano, Torreon and the surrounding areas of the east Manzano Mountains…