January 26, 2026 Update - Yesterday, fire crews successfully completed ignitions on 50 acres of piles. With all the required approval, ignitions are continuing today on pile burning within the unit. The project area is 704 acres of broadcast and pile burning units located 3 miles south of Magdalena and adjacent to the communities of Hop and Patterson Canyon within the Magdalena Mountains, NM. Smoke may be visible from Alamo and Magdalena, NM.

January 26, 2026 – As previously announced, the Cibola National Forest & National Grasslands (NF & NGs) is planning implementation on the Magdalena Ranger District Hop Patterson Prescribed (Rx) Fire as early as today (January 26, 2026), pending all required approvals.