Seven Cabins Fire Update: More than 1,110 Personnel Battling Blaze

Firefighters working the Seven Cabins Fire near Capitan continue balancing suppression repair work with preparations for possible renewed fire activity as warmer and drier weather returns to the region.

According to Wednesday evening fire officials, the wildfire has now grown slightly to 28,781 acres with more than 1,110 personnel assigned to the incident. Containment was listed at 44% Wednesday evening after earlier reports placed containment at 46%.

Fire managers said recent rainfall and cooler temperatures helped reduce fire behavior and smoke production over the past several days, allowing crews to continue mop-up operations and strengthen containment lines along the northern portion of the fire.

As containment improves in some areas, firefighters have shifted additional personnel and equipment toward the southern flank of the fire where crews continue removing fuels around structures, chipping vegetation, improving containment lines, and preparing for possible firing operations along Forest Road 57.

Officials warned that as moisture leaves the area and temperatures rise again, larger fuels such as logs and dense timber could reignite surrounding vegetation and increase visible smoke and fire activity across steep terrain.

To stay ahead of changing conditions, incident managers are evaluating strategic firing operations designed to remove hazardous fuels before conditions dry further. Officials emphasized that any ignition operations remain dependent on weather and fire behavior conditions.

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Meanwhile, suppression repair work continues across the northern side of the fire, including repairing fences and roads damaged during firefighting operations, smoothing dozer berms, and hauling excess hoses and portable water tanks back to the incident command post for reuse.

Highway 246 remains open following recent improvements in containment, though forest closures and Stage 1 fire restrictions remain active across portions of the Capitan Mountain area, including Baca Campground and areas south of Highway 246 near Forest Service Road 57.

SET evacuation status also remains in effect for portions of the Fort Lone Tree area, South Base Road east of Capitan Gap Road, and areas along Highway 246 near Boy Scout Mountain.

Fire managers additionally reminded visitors that firefighting equipment staged near the Fort Stanton Historic Siteremains part of active operations and should be avoided for public safety.