Laguna Wildfire Daily Update July 3, 2025
Contact Information: Claudia Brookshire 505-607-0879 claudia.brookshire@usda.gov
Forest Service News Release
Laguna Wildfire Daily Update
Brandon Hess – Incident Commander
July 3, 2025
Acres: 1300
Start Date: 6/25/2025
Completion: 10 %
Location: Located in the Coyote Ranger District, 8 miles north of New Mexico State Road 96 and west of the Chama River Canyon Wilderness.
Personnel: 120
Fuels: Oak brush, ponderosa pine, pinyon-juniper
Resources: 2 hotshot crews, 1 Type 2 Initial Attack crew, 1 helicopter, 6 engines, 2 water tenders
Highlights: Rain was heavier on the east side of the wildfire, and fire crews were not able to conduct firing operations Instead fire crews focused on improving holding features and access points. A helicopter monitored the wildfire from above, revealing that the fire was creeping and smoldering at a low intensity. On Wednesday, some areas exhibited heavy dead and downed wood, along with tussock moth-killed mixed conifers, which produced visible smoke.
Weather: Critical fire weather conditions are not forecast for at least the next seven days. Good chances for wetting showers and storms will continue through Thursday and then get mostly shutdown on Friday and Saturday as drier air moves in from the west and high pressure strengthens over the region. Hotter conditions will prevail from late weekend through the middle of next week under the influence of the high pressure. Chances for wetting storms will be back on the uptrend during the late weekend through mid-week period as moisture gets drawn into the state.
Smoke: Light winds today will push any smoke produced east and southeast of the fire this afternoon. Overnight smoke is expected to settle in the Rio Chama River valley, with the potential for some smoke settling along the NM State Road 96 corridor between La Jara and Coyote overnight, but no significant impacts are expected.
On the 4th of July and Saturday, smoke may impact Los Alamos and Santa Fe but conditions are expected to remain at MODERATE levels overall. Heavy smoke is expected to settle in the Rio Chama valley overnight, along with potential impacts along the NM State Road 96 corridor but should lift in the morning. Individuals sensitive to smoke should take precautions such as closing their windows overnight.
Safety: The health and safety of firefighters and the public are always the highest priority. Please avoid the area while crews manage the Laguna Wildfire. Drones and firefighting aircraft are a dangerous mix and could lead to accidents or slow down wildfire operations. If you fly, we can’t.
Closures: : Closure Order 03-10-01-25-08 is in place and includes all National Forest System lands, roads, and trails within Township 24N Range 1E Sections 1,2,11,12,13,14,23,24,25,26 and Township 24N Range 2E Sections 4-9 and Sections14-32 and Township 25N Range 1E Sections 25,35,36 and Township 25N Range 2E Sections 30-32 of the New Mexico Principal Meridian within the Coyote Ranger District. The purpose of this Order is to protect the public’s health and safety during firefighting operations for the Laguna Wildfire. See attached map for the closure area.
More Information: 505-607-0879 | claudia.brookshire@usda.gov| x.com/SantafeNF | facebook.com/santafeNF | Inciweb-Laguna Wildfire | NM Fire Info
About the Forest Service: The USDA Forest Service has for more than 100 years brought people and communities together to answer the call of conservation. Grounded in world-class science and technology– and rooted in communities–the Forest Service connects people to nature and to each other. The Forest Service cares for shared natural resources in ways that promote lasting economic, ecological, and social vitality. The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, provides assistance to state and private landowners, maintains the largest wildland fire and forestry research organizations in the world. The Forest Service also has either a direct or indirect role in stewardship of about 900 million forested acres within the U.S., of which over 130 million acres are urban forests where most Americans live.
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