Two Corrales residents were riding their horses when they saw smoke coming from the Bosque over the weekend.
They immediately called authorities.
The fire department says getting that call in early is critical "By the time the firefighters got here, there were some flames, 2-3 feet," said Tanya Lattin, Commander Corrales Fire Department.
Corrales Fire Department says the fire was human-caused and could have been a lot worse.
"Right where we are at along the ditch, there are homes behind us, and you can see the fuel load on both sides of the fire," Lattin said.
Firefighters say the cold weather adds to the thick and dry vegetation that already can fuel a fire.
"Either way the fire could have gone, it could have been a catastrophic fire," she said.