Wildfire in Jemez Mountains, New Mexico

The Rio Wildfire was located on Mesa de la Gallina, approximately 3 miles northeast of Chicoma Mountain, and north of Los Alamos in the northeastern slopes of the Jemez Mountains. The fire was lightning caused and discovered June 16th, growing 167 acres by the 24th. The fire did not threaten any property or structures given its extremely remote location.

The lightning caused Rio Wildfire grew rapidly in an extremely remote area of the northeastern Jemez Mountains, north of Los Alamos, NM. The fire was discovered June 16th and persisted until the 24th when full suppression activities brought it under control. Lightning also caused the Deer Canyon Wildfire two days later on the 20th south of Mountainair, threatening homes in the Deer Canyon Subdivision. Evacuations were ordered for residences in the area before the fire came under control on the 24th.