New Mexico
Line Fire, Mimms Fire – Quay County – Update
May 16, 2026
The New Mexico Forestry Division would like to update you on wildfire activity on the Line Fire and the Mimms Fire that is requiring the attention of suppression resources in New Mexico.
Line Fire – Quay County – Final
Yesterday, good work from response crews kept the Line Fire within its footprint and allowed firefighters to establish line around the entire right flank. These lines held under hot, dry and windy conditions throughout the day, raising containment to 90%. Over the coming days, resources will continue to secure the remainder of the fire’s edge until the incident is fully contained and out. The fire’s size is now estimated at 30,144 acres. This will be the final notification on this fire unless there are significant changes.
The Line Fire was discovered at 6:14 p.m. Thursday, May 14 near HWY 54 south of Nara Visa in Quay County.
Acres: 30,144 acres estimated.
Containment: 90% contained.
Start Date / Time: 6:14 p.m. on Thursday, May 14
Fuels: Grass.
Cause: Lightning.
Location: HWY 54 south of Nara Visa in Quay County.
Ownership: State and private in New Mexico and Texas.
Structure Threat: None at this time.
Evacuations / Closures: None at this time.
Weather: Today sunny, with highs near 95. Patchy smoke after noon. North wind 5-10 mph becoming south 15-20 mph in the afternoon. Red Flag Warning in effect until 8 p.m. this evening.
Resources: Forestry Division, Quay County, local volunteer fire department resources. Six type-6 engines, one fixed-wing aircraft.
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Mimms Fire – Quay County
Yesterday, response crews and air resources on the Mimms fire were able to establish and hold fireline around the western edge, raising containment to 20%. Fire behavior remained active in the interior, producing a slop over that was caught on the north side. Spot fires were seen up to three-quarters of a mile ahead of the fire front.
Today’s objectives include holding and improving line to keep the fire within in its footprint, while working to extinguish heat along the flanks and the head. Crews and heavy equipment will cut grader and dozer line on the east and west flanks, while keeping their focus on the fire’s eastern edge. The Sparks fire burn scar to the southwest will be used a containment feature if necessary. Aviation resources have been requested.
Acres: 4,000 estimated.
Containment: 20% contained.
Start Date / Time: 2 p.m. on Thursday, May 14
Fuels: Grass, pinon/juniper
Cause: Lightning.
Location: North of HWY 156, northwest of Jordan, east of Sparks Fire footprint.
Ownership: Private.
Threats: Structure threat has passed.
Weather: Today sunny, with highs near 95. Patchy smoke after noon. North wind 5-10 mph becoming south 15-20 mph in the afternoon. Red Flag Warning in effect until 8 p.m. this evening.
Resources: NM Forestry Division, Oregon Department of Forestry, local volunteer fire departments, NM Department of Transportation. Total personnel: 68.
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Mimms Fire, seen from the air, May 15, 2026. Credit: NM Forestry Division
New Mexico
Switchbacks face perfect test against New Mexico; Duke Lacroix to make club history at World Cup
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Police arrested two young men on murder charges after a deadly shooting outside the Frontier Restaurant near the University of New Mexico.
Police said 19-year-old Junior Lewis and 20-year-old Evan Rogers are in custody and both face murder charges.
Police said both men are set to face a judge Saturday.
Investigators said they found both suspects inside Rogers’ dorm room at UNM.
The shooting happened in the early morning hours Thursday just south of Central between Cornell and Stanford.
Police said the man who was shot died at the scene.
Leapfrog released its 2026 spring hospital safety grades.
Grades are assigned based on overall performance, including patient safety.
The Leapfrog Group’s goal is to publicly report patient safety and quality information for the benefit of consumers, purchasers, and referring physicians as they make decisions about where to seek care and where to direct patients,” the company stated on its website.
Here’s how your local hospitals performed.
MountainView Regional Medical Center – A
Leapfrog gave MountainView an “A.”
“Being the only hospital in Doña Ana County to earn an ‘A’ from The Leapfrog Group speaks to the high standards our team sets – and meets – every day,” said MountainView CEO Patrick Shannon. “This achievement reflects the dedication of our physicians, nurses, and employees to deliver the safest care possible for our community.”
“An ‘A’ Grade is a strong sign that MountainView is deeply committed to protecting patients from harm,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “We commend the leadership, Board, clinicians, staff and volunteers for the role each played in earning this distinction.”
The hospital performed better than average in several areas including low infection rates, addressing safety problems, and ICU care. The hospital received below average performances ratings in surgical site infections post colon surgery, communication about medicine and discharge, communication with doctors and nurses and nursing and bedside care for patients.
Memorial Medical Center – B
Memorial Medical Center received a “B” grade from Leapfrog.
The hospital performed well in effective leadership, reduction and prevention of infections and addressing safety problems.
The hospital received below average ratings for kidney injury after surgery, serious breathing problems, harmful events, communication about medicine and discharge, and communication with doctors and nurses.
Not rated by Leapfrog were Three Crosses Regional Hospital.
Nearby top rated hospitals
Leapfrog gave an A to William Beaumont Army Medical Center and Del Sol Medical Center in El Paso. Las Palmas Medical Center in El Paso received a B.
How did other New Mexico hospitals perform?
A recipients were:
- CHRISTUS Southern New Mexico in Alamogordo
B recipients were:
- Lovelace Women’s Hospital in Albuquerque
C recipients were:
- Carlsbad Medical Center in Carlsbad
- CHRISTUS St. Vincent in Santa FE
- Eastern New Mexico Medical Center in Roswell
- Lovelace Medical Center-Downtown in Albuquerque
- Lovelace Regional Hospital in Roswell
- Lovelace Westside Hospital in Albuquerque
- University of New Mexico Hospital in Albuquerque
D recipients were:
- San Juan Regional Medical Center in Farmington
- UNM Sandoval Regional Medical Center in Rio Rancho
Explore the full survey results at https://www.hospitalsafetygrade.org/.
Jessica Onsurez is editor of the Las Cruces Sun-News. Reach her by email at jonsurez@usatodayco.com.
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