WILDFIRE1,700 ACRES

Rabbit Ear East Fire, New Mexico

Latest size
Map: Rabbit Ear East Fire, New Mexico

The Rabbit Ear East Fire burned in Union County, New Mexico, about 3 miles (5 km) southeast of Clayton, New Mexico. NASA began tracking it on August 24, 2026. Its latest size is 1,700 acres (688 hectares, 7 km²), about 12 percent the size of Manhattan, or about 1,288 American football fields. NASA stopped tracking it after August 24.

Size1,700 acres
Hectares688 ha
Area6.9 km² · 2.7 mi²
Contained100%
Personnel4
CauseNatural
DiscoveredAug 23, 2026
Tracked sinceAug 24, 2026
Tracked for1 day
Location36.50°N 103.14°W
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Containment and crews

According to the national interagency fire record, it is 100 percent contained, fully under control, with 4 firefighters and support staff assigned.

Its cause is listed as natural.

Fire behavior reported: minimal.

It was declared out on August 27, 2026.

Seen from space

Satellite picture, When tracking began · August 24, 2026
When tracking began · August 24, 2026
Satellite picture, Latest · August 27, 2026
Latest · August 27, 2026

True color from the VIIRS instrument on the NOAA-20 satellite. Red dots are fires detected by their heat; smoke shows as gray-brown haze. The ring marks where the event was reported. Pictures: NASA Worldview (GIBS) from the daily satellite passes; clouds can hide the ground on some days.

Fire size and location from NASA EONET and the National Interagency Fire Center’s incident records (IRWIN, WFIGS). For evacuations and closures, follow local officials and InciWeb.

More: every wildfire page · all events

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