NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – Officials say the wildfire burning in the greater Peñasco area has been fully contained.

All evacuation statuses have been lifted.

“I want to thank all the firefighters that responded to this incident, especially those who responded immediately after smoke was first reported” said Incident Commander Fabian Montaño. “Working across boundaries is imperative for the success in all aspects of wildland fire.”

  • The El Valle Fire burns roughly 20 miles northeast of Española on September 8, 2023 | Courtesy: Adam Fuentes
  • The El Valle Fire burns roughly 20 miles northeast of Española on September 8, 2023 | Courtesy: Adam Fuentes

Details about the fire can be seen below:

  • Start Date: September 8, 2023, around 12:49 p.m.
  • Location: Vicinity of El Valle and Las Trampas, New Mexico
  • Size: 525 acres
  • Contained: 100%
  • Structures Burned: One outbuilding damage
  • Cause of Fire: Not yet determined
  • Evacuations: Lifted
  • Vegetation: Timber
  • Response: 10 engines, three dozers, a hotshot crew, two helicopters, four large air tankers, one lead plane, and one air attack

The fire made up about 340 acres of National Forest land and about 180 acres of non-Forest Service lands.

These fire agencies helped the Carson National Forest crews with the fire:

  • Albuquerque Fire Rescue  
  • Angel Fire Fire Department 
  • Black Hills National Forest (Tatanka Hotshots) 
  • Bureau of Land Management 
  • Chimayo Volunteer Fire Department 
  • Cochiti Volunteer Fire Department 
  • Coconino National Forest 
  • Durango (CO) Tanker Base  
  • Slide Mountain Hand Crew, North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection 
  • Dixon Volunteer Fire Department 
  • La Mesilla Volunteer Fire Department 
  • Nevada State Crew – Slide Mountain 
  • New Mexico State Forestry 
  • Ojo Sarco Volunteer Fire Department 
  • Penasco Volunteer Fire Department 
  • Picuris Pueblo 
  • Rio Grande Volunteer Fire Department 
  • Santa Fe County (Chimayo Fire District) 
  • Santa Fe City Fire Department 
  • Santa Fe National Forest 
  • Taos County Fire 
  • Taos Pueblo 

Other groups that provided assistance:

  •  Bureau of Land Management 
  • Durango (CO) Interagency Dispatch Center 
  • Mora County Sheriff’s Department 
  • New Mexico State Police 
  • Rio Arriba County Sheriff’s Department and Dispatch 
  • Taos County Sheriff’s Department and Dispatch 
  • US Forest Service 
  • Village of Questa