Seven Cabins Fire Update: Some Areas Downgraded from “Go” to “Set”

Firefighters continue making progress on the Seven Cabins Fire in the Capitan Mountain Wilderness as containment holds at 46% and some evacuation restrictions ease following recent rainfall.

According to Tuesday evening fire officials, the human-caused wildfire remains at 28,750 acres with more than 1,100 personnel assigned to the incident. Crews on the north side of the fire have now shifted toward suppression repair efforts, including repairing roads and fences, removing cut vegetation, and backhauling hose and firefighting equipment no longer needed in contained areas.

On the southern portion of the fire, firefighters continue strengthening containment and check lines near South Base Road and north of Salazar Canyon Road while preparing for additional firing operations as weather conditions allow.

Incident managers said recent rain and thunderstorms provided much-needed moisture across portions of the fire area, though fire behavior analysts warned that large dead fuels and stump holes continue to hold heat and smolder.

As containment improves, Highway 246 has reopened to traffic and some evacuation areas have been downgraded from GO to SET status. Forest closures and Stage 1 fire restrictions remain in place around the fire area, including portions of the Capitan Mountain region and Baca Campground.

Meanwhile, recent thunderstorms have also sparked several new lightning-caused fires elsewhere in New Mexico.

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The Gila National Forest reported crews responded Tuesday to three small lightning-caused fires, including the Draw Fire and Taylor Fire on the Black Range Ranger District and the Double Fire in the Gila Wilderness north-northwest of the Gila Cliff Dwellings.

Forest officials said the Draw and Taylor fires were quickly contained or extinguished, while the Double Fire remained at approximately one-tenth of an acre with low spread potential.

Fire managers warned that additional lightning-caused fires may still emerge as warmer and drier weather returns later this week following scattered storms across the region.

Officials continue reminding the public that temporary flight restrictions remain active over the Seven Cabins Fire and that unauthorized drones force all firefighting aircraft to ground operations immediately.

“If You Fly, We Can’t,” fire officials reiterated Tuesday.