Sago Fire 75% contained, excess resources released from operations
UPDATE (4/5/26 - 10:53 A.M) -- Officials with the Mescalero Apache Tribe say the Sago Fire is now 75% contained as of April 2.
Officials say that as of April 3, operation leadership has been returned to local personnel and the cause of the fire is still under investigation.
Officials also mention that most of the resources that were helping to fight the fire were released from operations. As of April 2, 72 personnel, 3 engines, 1 handcrew, and 1 excavator remained to continue putting out hot spots in the area.
Class III High Fire Danger Restrictions still remain in effect on the Mescalero Reservation.
The following are the restrictions in place:
Campfires are allowed only in designated areas (e.g., Silver Lake).
- Outdoor smoking must be properly extinguished.
- Fireworks are strictly prohibited.
- No restrictions on charcoal grills and wood-burning stoves, but proper screens must be installed in dwellings with fireplaces.
- Ensure chainsaws and combustion engines are equipped with spark arrestors.
Once more information is provided, we will update you online and on air.
UPDATE (3/31/26 - 3:42 P.M.) -- Officials say the Sago fire is now 34% contained. It still measures to 300 acres.
UPDATE (3/30/26 - 7:17 A.M.) Officials say the Sago fire near Mescalero, NM is now contained 17%. As of this morning firefighters are securing the perimeter; Crews will begin assessing repair needs today.
The fire area has shrunk from 300 acres to 282 acres.
UPDATE (3/29/26 - 10:30 A.M.) -- The Sago fire near Mescalero, NM was updated Sunday by officials, saying that the fire has grown to 300 acres and remains at zero percent contained.
Officials say that firefighters are working directly along the fire’s edge to bolster the existing handlines, dozer lines and fire retardant lines.
With decreasing fire behavior, officials with the Gila Las Cruces Type 3 Incident Management Team is anticipating favorable conditions, like potential rain, to get the wildfire under control.
Officials also say that the threat to structures/locations at risk, including Cow Camp Facilities three miles north of the fire, will continue to diminish.
The cause of the fire still remains under investigation.
Once more information is provided, we will update you on air and online.
UPDATE (3/28/26 - 10:18 A.M.) -- The Sago fire had previously reportedly burned around 600 acres according to the National Interagency Fire Center. However, according to officials with the Mescalero Apache Tribe the fire has only burned around 250 acres.
Officials say 133 fire personnel are currently working on the Sago fire and that zero percent of the fire has been contained.
The fire is spreading rapidly due dry fuels and strong winds in the area, according to officials.
Officials also mention that large air tankers are being deployed to help prevent the fire from advancing any further.
There is a flight restriction over the fire but officials say there are no official road closures but should avoid Sago Canyon Road and Turkey Canyon Road.
A Class III High Fire Danger restriction is currently in place for the area which includes the following restrictions:
- Campfires are permitted only within designated areas, specifically at Silver Lake.
- The use of fireworks is strictly prohibited during this high fire danger period.
- When using chainsaws or other combustion engines, it is mandatory to have a properly functioning spark arrestor installed.
According to officials, the following are the current teams that are working on the fire's front line:
- 6 fire engines
- 1 water tender
- 2 bulldozers
- 1 hotshot crew
- 1 twenty-person contract crew
- 1 helicopter base manager
Once more information is provided, we will update you on air and online.
MESCALERO, New Mexico (KVIA) - The Sago fire has burned more than 639 acres of land so far, mostly made up of brush, grass, Pinion, and juniper.
The source of the fire has not been confirmed, but suppression efforts continue. More than 40 personnel have been on scene with more expected to arrive.
Two dozers were assigned to the fire to help move debris and ashes in search for hotspots. Two hotshot crews were also deployed.
The new fire perimeter shows the fire include the Sago and Cow Camp area, Mescalero Apache Reservation, according to the National Interagency Fire Center maps.
No injuries have been reported and no structures affected.
