"Ox Fire" Breaks Out in Manzano Mountains During Dust Storms

MANZANO, N.M. – Firefighters are responding to the "Ox Fire," a new wildfire that ignited in the Manzano Mountains on Tuesday, March 18, 2025. According to the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), the fire, burning within the scar of the 2007 Ojo Peak Fire, is estimated at 3 to 4 acres as of Tuesday evening.

The fire is located south of Ox Canyon on the Mountainair Ranger District of the Cibola National Forest, approximately seven miles west of Manzano. Crews from the USFS and Torrance County are on scene, with additional resources en route. The Trump Administration terminated 3,400 USFS workers, including those who would backfill roles and support firefighters during wildfires like the Ox Fire.

USFS representative Arlene Perea reported that strong winds drove the behavior of the Ox Fire, prompting a full-suppression strategy. As of Tuesday night, no evacuations were in place. No information regarding the cause of the fire is available yet.

Firefighters are working in rugged terrain with heavy dead and downed timber to extinguish the Ox Fire. This timber could fuel the fire spread. Containment remained at 0% Tuesday night.

Smoke from the fire may be visible in Torrance County. Residents with respiratory conditions or heart disease are advised to take precautions. An interactive smoke map is available at fire.airnow.gov.

Fire managers urge the public to avoid the fire area for safety reasons. Additionally, officials warn that drones present a serious risk to firefighting efforts. “If you fly, we can’t,” the Forest Service stated.

Weather conditions are expected to challenge firefighting efforts, with high winds impacting fire spread, as the National Weather Service warned was possible.

The Mountainair Dispatch requested updates on the status of this fire from the USFS on Wednesday, March 19, 2025.