Rabbit Ear East Fire (New Mexico)
Started on Aug 23, 2026.
United States todayLiveSatellite image: NASA MODIS (infrared — active fire in orange/red, from yesterday).
Heat detections: NASA FIRMS (last 48h).
Quick facts
- Location
- 3 Miles SE from Clayton, NM
- Cause
- Natural
- Personnel
- 19
- Complexity
- Type 4 Incident
- Fuel
- Short Grass (1 foot)
- Behavior
- Active, Torching, Creeping
- Jurisdiction
- Private land
Burning across private land in Union County, New Mexico, the active Rabbit Ear East Fire has expanded to 2,500 acres after two days of activity, maintaining an approximate average daily growth of 1,250 acres per day since it started on August 23, 2026. Natural forces ignited the blaze, which is currently being monitored through remote sensing as satellites pick up six heat detections in the surrounding area over the past 48 hours, illustrating the recent spread of the fire front.
This incident unfolds within the broader context of the region's typical fire season, which generally runs from June to October. Nationally, the wildfire activity occurs during a year when 3,005,648 hectares have burned so far in 2026, placing the cumulative burned area 45% below the two-decade average.
In context
This wildfire burned in New Mexico for 2 days. In total it burned about 1,700 acres — around 6.9 km².
In the Northern Hemisphere, wildfire activity usually peaks during the warm, dry months — roughly May through October.
The bigger picture in United States
Across United States, roughly 3,195,047 hectares have burned so far in 2026 — 42% below the two-decade average. Data from Copernicus GWIS.
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