Mimms

Note: The New Mexico Forestry Division issued its final update on the Mimms Fire on May 17, 2026, indicating that no further notifications would be provided unless significant changes occurred. The information below reflects the most current situation report based on the final official data.

Fire Start, Size and Growth

Start Date/Time/Location: The Mimms Fire ignited at approximately 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 14, 2026. It is located in Quay County, New Mexico, specifically north of Highway 156, northwest of Jordan, and east of the Sparks Fire footprint.
Size and Containment: The fire has burned an estimated 7,093 acres and is currently 40% contained.
Fuels, Growth and Rate of Spread: The fire has been primarily fueled by dry grass and piñon/juniper. Driven by extreme fire weather, the fast-moving nature of the grass fire combined with high winds contributed to a rapid rate of spread, causing the fire to grow quickly from its initial estimates.
Containment Efforts: Response crews and air support made excellent progress fortifying lines and increasing containment around the southern and western edges. Firefighters focused on improving lines on the east edge of the fire and extinguishing heat around the perimeter. Responding agencies included the New Mexico Forestry Division, Oregon Department of Forestry, Quay County, local volunteer fire departments, and the NM Department of Transportation. A Type 1 Interagency Hotshot Crew (IHC) and air resources were also utilized, with a total of 68 personnel assigned to the incident.

Emergency Information

Evacuations and Sheltering:
Mandatory Evacuation Orders: There are no mandatory evacuation orders in place for the Mimms Fire.
Evacuation Warnings: There are no active evacuation warnings at this time.
Curfew: No curfews have been reported for this incident.
Evacuation Shelters and Information: Because formal evacuation orders were not issued for this specific incident, dedicated evacuation shelters were not activated.

Road and Infrastructure Closures:

• There are no major highway closures explicitly mandated for the Mimms Fire.
• Travelers were previously advised to exercise caution or avoid Highway 156 northwest of Jordan due to the heavy presence of state and local fire apparatus, but traffic impacts have since subsided.

For more information, visit:

• NM Fire Info - Official New Mexico Fire Updates
• New Mexico Forestry Division
• NMRoads - Official New Mexico Road Closures and Advisories

Current Impact

Impacts:
Injuries and Fatalities: There have been no reported injuries or fatalities associated with the Mimms Fire.
Structures Impacted: The fire burned entirely on private land. While structures were actively threatened early in the incident and crews provided point protection, officials have confirmed that the structure threat has passed. No structures have been reported damaged or destroyed.
School and Business Closures: No specific school or business closures were announced in relation to the Mimms Fire.
Notable Impacts: The fire primarily impacted private rural land and agricultural landscapes in Quay County.

Safety Concerns:
Power Outages: No major power outages have been reported in connection with the Mimms Fire.
Water Safety: No specific water safety concerns have been reported.
Burn Bans: Due to extreme fire danger across the state, strict fire restrictions and burn bans remain in effect for much of New Mexico.
Air Quality: Smoke from the rapidly spreading grass fire initially posed health risks to residents in Quay County. While smoke production has significantly decreased with containment, residents with respiratory conditions should continue to monitor local air quality advisories.

Ongoing Outlook

Containment Projections: With containment at 40% and fire lines successfully holding, officials ceased daily updates on May 17, indicating that the fire is no longer actively spreading outside its footprint. Crews have continued to secure the remainder of the fire's edge to ensure it is fully contained and extinguished.
Weather and Wind Warnings: During the fire's peak activity, Red Flag Warnings were in effect due to high temperatures near 94°F, critically low relative humidity, and strong southwest winds at 15-25 mph with gusts up to 35 mph. Weather conditions will continue to be monitored to prevent any flare-ups within the interior.

Cause and the Role of Weather and Climate

Cause: The official cause of the Mimms Fire is lightning.
Weather and Climate: The fire ignited during a period of severe fire weather when a sizable band of lightning passed across New Mexico, sparking multiple wildfires in the region. The fire's rapid growth was heavily fueled by extreme climate conditions, including persistent dry spells, high temperatures, critically low humidity, and strong, gusty southwest winds that dried out the grass fuels and accelerated the fire's spread.

For more information, visit:

• NM Fire Info - Official New Mexico Fire Updates
• New Mexico Forestry Division
• NMRoads - Official New Mexico Road Closures and Advisories