UPDATES: Mogote Hill Fire

6:00 p.m. -Final Update on Mogote Hill Fire from New Mexico Forestry Division  

Today, crews worked to mop up the Mogote Hill fire’s perimeter and secure drainages, with good precipitation on the incident area. The fire is estimated at 15,000 acres and by the end of today’s shift, containment is anticipated to be 50%. Some resources have been released however others will continue checking for hotspots through tomorrow. This will be the final notification unless there are significant changes.

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12:00 p.m.- From the American Red Cross New Mexico: CLOSED: The American Red Cross shelter for residents affected by the Megote Hill Fire at the Abe Montoya Recreation Center, 1751 N. Grand Ave. in Las Vegas, NM is now CLOSED.

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UPDATE from the Mora County Sheriff's Office - Saturday, March 15 - 10:30 a.m.

This morning's briefing confirmed the Mogote Hill Fire has reached 20% containment. Fire crews continue to work towards obtaining a more accurate GPS reading of the affected area. Their tireless efforts to control the fire are greatly appreciated. Highway 271 is no longer under 'Go' status, and Wagon Mound has been removed from 'Ready' status. All areas will return to their regular status. The evacuation site located at the Abe Montoya Recreation Center, in Las Vegas will close today (Saturday) at 2pm.

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UPDATE 3/14/2025 8:30 p.m.- The fire has been updated to 11,000 acres at 0% containment per the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC).

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3/14/2025 5:30 p.m.

The Abe Montoya Recreation Center in Las Vegas will be serving as an evacuation shelter for those displaced by the Mogote Fire. The fire began around 12:00 p.m. today near County Road 35, just past the Fort Union Rest Area, and has spread rapidly. By 1:00 p.m., the fire had reached an estimated 500 acres and has now grown to over 3,000 acres.

The Mora County Sheriff’s Department has implemented the Ready, Set, Go Evacuation Stages. All residents along Highway 271 are under "Go" status and are being urged to evacuate immediately. The Village of Wagon Mound and nearby villages to the southeast are on "Ready" status, while Las Vegas is not currently under any evacuation order. Local, state, and federal fire resources are on-site to assist in the efforts.

Please follow the instructions of public safety personnel and adhere to evacuation orders.

For ongoing updates, visit the Mora County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page.