News Release

Frontal passage gives firefighters an edge on Encerrita Fire

Date: June 21, 2024
Contact: El Malpais Visitor Center, 505-876-2783

Grants, NM —The Encerrita Fire only gained 3 acres on Thursday due to higher humidity that followed a frontal passage. The 2282-acre lightning-caused fire is located in El Malpais National Monument, 15 miles south-southwest of Grants.
 
On Thursday firefighters were aided by high humidity and lighter winds while they continued to secure line and focus efforts on keeping the fire south and east of Highway 53. The western side of the fire progressed slowly toward the footprint of a prescribed fire that was completed by the NPS in April 2024. Growth to the south and east remained minimal and was slowed as it moved into lava fields and other areas with minimally available fuel.
 
Firefighters will continue line construction from the southwest corner of the fire to the Continental Divide Trail (CDT) and eventually to Highway 53 to the fire’s western edge as weather permits. Heavy precipitation with afternoon thunderstorms are expected today through the weekend, which will aid firefighting operations.
 
Closures remain in effect in the monument. The Continental Divide Trail (CDT) and Zuni-Acoma Trail are closed in El Malpais National Monument from Porter Ranch Rd off Hwy 53 to Hwy 117; a CDT bypass is in place between CDT miles 502.5 to 512.5; more information is available on the CDT website. Both the western Zuni-Acoma Trail parking lot and the eastern Acoma-Zuni Trail parking lot are included in the closure. Closures have been posted and the public is asked to avoid closed roads, trails, and parking lots. The El Calderon Trail remains open.
 
The El Calderon Trail remains open, but the bat flight programs scheduled for today, June 21 and tomorrow, June 22, have been cancelled due to incoming weather; please check with the visitor center for future changes upcoming program schedules that may occur. 
 
Additional updates on the Encerrita fire will be available on Facebook (@ElMalpaisNPS) and on Inciweb. Please contact the El Malpais Visitor Center at [phone] or visit www.nps.gov/elma for additional information on closures in the monument.

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