Guadalupe ‘Perch Fire’: Wildfire in Santa Rosa moving east rapidly; check map, evacuation updates

Wildfire near Perch Lake in Santa Rosa, New Mexico. Evacuations ordered in Santa Rosa areas routes via US 66. Some Highway 91 areas also evacuated.

Updated on: Mar 31, 2026, 04:55:20 IST

By Shamik Banerjee

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

A wildfire off the Perch Lake in Santa Rosa, Guadalupe County, New Mexico, on Monday afternoon has spread over 100 acres east triggering evacuations in the nearby areas. The fire is now being referred to as “Perch Fire" by the incident command owing to its proximity to the lake.

Authorities in Guadalupe County have issued immediate evacuation orders for residents between Cedarville Road and the Santa Rosa Golf Course. Additional evacuations are in place along State Road 91 from mile marker 1 to 6 on the east side.

The City of Santa Rosa also urged people east of Highway 91 South between mile posts 1 and 4 to evacuate.

Guadalupe Perch Fire Map

The fire is located near the Santa Rosa Route 66 airport off Highway 91. It lies on the eastern edge of the Table Mountains just off Guadalupe County.

Here's a map of the fire.

The Perch Fire is burning close to the Santa Rosa Route 66 Airport. (Mapbox via Watch Duty)

Perch Fire Evacuation Details

Designated evacuation routes have been prepared, and people have been directed along US 66 to Lake to Blue Hole Road. The New Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management said that the Santa Rosa Convention Center is available as an evacuation shelter for people.

Also read: US-Canada border road row: Why Alberta residents are losing access to Montana route? Locals outraged

Southbound traffic on State Road 91 has come to a halt, but traffic is still being allowed to leave the area. According to the New Mexico Department of Forest Management, the fire is 0% contained, as of 7:15pm ET.

“The fire was discovered at 12:50 p.m. on Monday, March 30. Fire behavior is active and making runs in grass and brush fuels,” New Mexico Forestry Division said on Facebook.

“Spot fires crossed over State Road 91, and the fire is making an eastern push. Structures are threatened, including the Santa Rosa Airport.”

Guadalupe County is located in east-central New Mexico, with Santa Rosa as its county seat along historic Route 66.

This story is developing. Check back for updates.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shamik Banerjee
Shamik is a journalist covering the United States for Hindustan Times. He has more than four years of experience reporting on US politics, sports, and major breaking stories across fast-moving cycles. He previously worked at Times Now and Sportskeeda, building strong newsroom instincts and digital storytelling skills. At HT.com, he focuses on day-to-day coverage of US political developments while also handling high-impact stories that demand speed, accuracy, clarity, and context under pressure. Shamik has extensive experience covering NFL game days over the past two years, coordinating live updates, analysis, and explainers. He is particularly drawn to large news moments such as US elections and the Super Bowl, where he thrives at the news desk working alongside the team. He holds degrees in Media Studies from Jamia Millia Islamia and English Literature from Jadavpur University. Before entering journalism, he briefly worked in digital marketing and political consultancy roles. Currently a Senior Content Producer at HT Digital, he is driven by curiosity, discipline, and a constant desire to explore new and obscure topics. Outside work, he enjoys reading, films, sports, and learning continuously.Read More

Stay updated with US News covering politics, crime, weather, local events, and sports highlights. Get the latest on Donald Trump and American politics along with Horoscope 2026.