Four Mile Fire held at 16 acres as crews mop up in the Zuni Mountains

The Four Mile Fire in the northwest Zuni Mountains reached 16 acres and was 70% contained when the Cibola National Forest issued its final update on the fire Aug. 12.

The Forest Service determined the fire was caused by lightning; the cause was undetermined when the fire was first reported. Fire behavior is now low, and firefighters are reinforcing containment lines and mopping up the interior with hand tools, turning over soil and smothering embers to cool hot spots and prevent reignition.

The fire was reported the afternoon of Sunday, Aug. 9, on the Mount Taylor Ranger District, south of Jamestown and Interstate 40, southeast of Fort Wingate and north of McGaffey. It burned in pinon-juniper and grass.

The fire was never a threat to any communities and no evacuations were ordered. Residual smoke may still be visible south of I-40, at Jamestown and Thoreau, west of Bluewater and around the northwest Zuni Mountains.

The Forest Service said the Aug. 12 update would be its last on the fire unless conditions change significantly.