June 21, 2026 by cibolanfng

North Sandia Mountain Wilderness – Sandia Ranger District

(Albuquerque, NM – June 21, 2026) — Firefighters continue with direct extinguishment strategy on the Osha Canyon Fire within the northern Sandia Mountain Wilderness on the Sandia Ranger District of the Cibola National Forest & National Grasslands.

Operations: Yesterday fire crews focused on securing containment lines and mopping up along the fire perimeter. With 100% containment recorded yesterday afternoon, some resources were released from the Osha Canyon fire to assist with other wildfires burning in the state. Today, Mt Taylor Ranger District Crew 3-2 is on scene at the Osha Canyon Fire to patrol containment lines and work on mopping up interior hot spots. Aviation resources will continue to support fire operations.

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Reported start date / Time: June 19, 2026 / 1322

Cause: Lightning strike.

Size: Estimate 1 acre.

Containment: 100%

Location: Northern Sandia Mountain Wilderness south of Placitas, west of FSR 165 within the Sandia Ranger District on the Cibola National Forest, New Mexico.

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Residual Smoke may be visible in the surrounding areas of Placitas and Bernalillo.  

Resources on Scene: US Forest Service Mt Taylor Ranger District crew 3-2.

Fuels: Mixed Conifer.

Fire Activity is minimal.

Weather: Today for Albuquerque, NM (June 21, 2026): Sunny and hot, with a high near 99. Light and variable wind becoming west 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon. Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 62. West wind 5 to 10 mph becoming east after midnight. https://www.weather.gov/

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Additional updates will be sent as new information is received.    

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Fiesta Subaru donated $58,000 to Watermelon Mountain Ranch Animal Shelter, helping New Mexico’s largest no-kill animal rescue pay for food and medical care.

Fiesta Subaru has helped hundreds of dogs find permanent homes over the years. The dealership sets aside part of its sales and then delivered one check for $58,000 to Watermelon Mountain Ranch Animal Shelter.

“Whenever someone is looking for a dog and they go to one of these facilities it really does go a long way,” said Derek Culach, president of Fiesta Auto Group. “These funds that we are setting aside to give to them for the food for the medical bills everything else these dogs need to find a home that’s healthy and everything that goes a long with that.”

The event brought together people who love pets to celebrate the donation and support the shelter’s work through the year.

People brought their dogs to play games and some also had a chance to meet a possible new pet.

ROSWELL, N.M. (KRQE) – A dramatic crash left one teenager dead in southern New Mexico. New video shows the moments Roswell police responded to that crash, calling it the result of reckless driving. It was a chaotic scene involving six people in the collision, and almost all of them are minors. Roswell police said no teenager is facing charges.

On March 10 at 6 p.m., Roswell police responded to a crash involving a Honda Accord and a GMC Yukon SUV. In the Honda were four Roswell teenagers: two girls, ages 15 and 16, and two 17-year-old boys. One of the girls died from the injuries in the crash.

A bystander says she pulled some of the teens out of the Honda, but was unable to get that girl. In the SUV was a 56-year-old woman with her 11-year-old daughter. She told police she tried to avoid the crash. Detectives later interviewed one of the teens, who said the boy driving was going way above the speed limit, and the driver spun out.

Two other teens in the car suffered severe injuries but survived. The passengers in the SUV suffered minor injuries. The 17-year-old driver is Clarence Cheadle Jr. He’s facing six charges, including homicide by vehicle, reckless driving, and causing bodily harm.