"The WHISKEY fire’s rapid growth to over 500 acres in less than a month and the substantial resources committed—over 140 personnel at its peak—highlight the challenges of managing natural fires in remote areas. Its eventual full containment demonstrates effective suppression efforts."
The WHISKEY wildfire, located 15 miles northwest of Mountainair in Torrance County, New Mexico, was first discovered on August 21, 2026. By September 14, the fire had expanded to 542 acres and was 48% contained, with 144 personnel deployed and a moderate, backing, smoldering behavior. Over the following weeks containment steadily improved, reaching 75% by September 21 and 100% by October 9, while the acreage remained steady at 542 acres. The incident is managed by the U.S. Forest Service, and the cause is natural. The fire’s behavior has shifted from moderate to minimal, creeping and smoldering as containment progressed.
Official source description: 15 Miles NW from Mountainair, NM
Minimal; Creeping; Smoldering
Good air quality. Outdoor activity is generally safe near this incident.
Reporting area: . Source: AirNow.gov (EPA).
Observed: 2026-10-11 02:00:00 UTC · Site: 2LL Los Lunas.
The fire is currently minimal, creeping, and smoldering with 100% containment, so general wildfire safety guidance applies. Stay informed of local advisories and avoid any outdoor activities that could spark new fires.
IRWIN ID: {D523CDA6-59EA-4DF0-8CBE-DF2778E55B0F}
Discovered: Aug 21, 2026
Cause: Natural
Managing Agency: USFS
Est. Cost to Date: $4,550,480
Coordinates: 34.6788, -106.4319
Other wildfires no longer present in our filtered incident feed in NM.
The WHISKEY Fire has burned 542 acres as of October 9, 2026.
Yes, the WHISKEY Fire is fully contained (100%).
The official cause has been listed as: Natural.
The WHISKEY Fire is burning in Torrance, NM.
The WHISKEY Fire currently meets our U.S. incident tracking criteria. This does not confirm current fire behavior.
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