News Release

Closure of NPS Administered Portions of CR42 Due To Cerro Bandera Fire

Date: June 9, 2022
Contact: Jamie Kern, 505-876-2783

Grants, NM – The Cerro Bandera fire was reported at 10:40 am today on private land just west of the El Malpais National Monument boundary near CR 42 and NM 53. In response to the fire, the National Park Service is closing NPS-administered portions of CR 42 until further notice.

The fire is currently more than 50 acres in size and growing. NPS fire crews are assisting other agencies with fire suppression efforts. Currently, private structures outside the park boundary are being threatened. The fire has not yet entered the park, but if it does, those park units have been treated with prescribed burn within the last four years and no public structures are at risk.

Heavy smoke is present in areas downwind of the fire. Smoke-sensitive individuals and people with respiratory problems or heart disease are encouraged to avoid the western portion of the park and take precautionary measures while visiting other portions of the park. Information on air quality and protecting your health can be found online at the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) Environmental Public Health Tracking (EPHT) website at https://nmtracking.doh.nm.gov. An interactive smoke map at https://fire.airnow.gov/ allows you to zoom into your area to see the latest smoke conditions.

Updates on the fire will be posted at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov and http://nmfireinfo.com.