Massive Smoke Columns Rise As Sacaton Fire Burns Through Remote Wilderness

A panoramic view from a high ridge shows the immense scale of the Sacaton Fire burning in the Gila Wilderness.

The footage captures massive plumes of white, grey, and brownish smoke rising from multiple points across distant mountain ridges. Towering smoke columns stretch into the clear blue sky as active fire activity continues in the distance.

Smoke moves through valleys and over forested slopes, while charred and skeletal dead trees stand along the ridgeline in the foreground, framing the wildfire scene in rugged, steep terrain.

The lightning-ignited Sacaton Fire began on June 21, 2026, approximately 15 miles east of Glenwood. By early July, it had expanded to over 8,638 acres with 0% containment and around 149 personnel assigned.

The fire showed active growth toward the Willow Creek area and previous burn scars, prompting retardant drops by Single Engine Air Tankers and an evacuation order for the Willow Creek Subdivision. Bursum Road/NM-159 remains closed in sections.

The panoramic footage from July 1 shows the fire’s intense smoke production and spread across remote wilderness, highlighting the challenges of aerial and ground suppression efforts in the steep Gila terrain.