Cato 2 Fire (NM)

Spanning two days of burning with an average daily growth of approximately 1,040 acres, the active Cato 2 Fire has reached 2,080 acres in Chaves County, New Mexico, located 40 miles northeast of Roswell. Satellites in the area are picking up a moderate heat signature, reflecting the ongoing activity of the blaze as it burns through two-foot brush on federal land managed by the BLM. Containment efforts have reached 60 percent, with eight personnel assigned to the Type 4 incident under a Type 4 IC.

The naturally caused fire unfolds within a regional fire season that typically runs from June to October. Across the country, the broader wildfire landscape shows 2,921,034 hectares burned so far in 2026, marking a figure that sits 47 percent below the two-decade average. Operations on the Cato 2 Fire continue as crews work toward full containment with an accumulated cost of $20,000.