What is the name and location of the wildfire?
As of June 13, 2026, the Bear Fire is burning in Catron County, New Mexico, within the Quemado Ranger District of the Gila National Forest.
The wildfire is located approximately 18 miles southeast of Quemado and east of Mangas Mountain.
Which cities or areas are affected by the wildfire?
The cities and areas affected by the Bear Fire include:
- Apache Creek
- Datil
- Omega
- Pie Town
- Quemado
- Reserve
- Surrounding communities near the Gila National Forest
Smoke from the wildfire may affect visibility and air quality in these communities, depending on fire activity and changing wind patterns.
What is the current containment status of the wildfire?
As of June 13, 2026, the Bear Fire has burned 5,038.2 acres and remains 0% contained.
Firefighters are using both direct and indirect suppression tactics to slow the fire's spread and protect critical infrastructure, private property, and natural resources. More than 200 personnel, supported by helicopters, fixed-wing aircraft, engines, dozers, and hand crews, are assigned to the incident (1).
Fire activity has been influenced by dry weather, wind, steep terrain, and heavy fuel loads, making containment efforts challenging.
Are there any evacuation orders or alerts in place?
Evacuation alerts are currently in place for portions of Catron County. Authorities have issued a SET (Level 2 Evacuation Warning) status for Zones 2, 3, and 4 under the county's Ready, Set, Go! evacuation framework.
Residents in these zones are advised to remain alert, monitor official updates, and be prepared to leave if conditions worsen.
Officials advise residents to monitor updates closely, as evacuation statuses may change based on fire conditions. In addition, a Temporary Flight Restriction has been established over the fire area, and the public is urged to avoid locations where firefighting operations are underway.
Protect yourself from wildfire smoke
See how a wildfire smoke air purifier can help clean your air.
How can I protect myself from wildfire smoke?
Always plan ahead to protect yourself from wildfire smoke.
- Get a free air quality app for real-time air quality alerts and forecasts.
- Shut doors and windows and set the HVAC to recirculate mode.
- Run a high-performance air purifier to filter wildfire smoke.
- Contribute to your community’s outdoor air quality data.
- Stay indoors; if you do need to go outdoors, wear a KN95/FFP2 mask.
As of June 13, 2026, this fire is 0% contained.
