Officials say New Mexico wildfire has burned nearly 60 homes
Pastor Dale Morgan
Officials say New Mexico wildfire has burned nearly 60 homes*
By MATT MYGATT,
Associated Press Writer
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Firefighters worked in cooler, calmer weather
Saturday to clear lines around a blaze that has burned nearly 60 homes
and more than 20 square miles in the mountains of central New Mexico.
Authorities were able to confirm Saturday that 50 homes burned Wednesday
in a fire caused by humans in the Manzano Mountains, souteast of
Albuquerque, said Linda Peters, a fire information officer. Nine homes
had burned earlier.
The 50 homes _ most in an area called Sherwood Forest, west of the
community of Torreon _ went up Wednesday after the fire jumped
containment lines.
The tally was conducted Friday and Saturday when the ashes from the
13,790-acre fire had cooled enough to allow authorities in, Peters said.
The blaze had been 95 percent contained before a spot fire flared
Wednesday and wind gusts of more than 50 mph drove the flames to the
northeast.
Crews used hand tools and bulldozers to slash lines around the fire as
helicopters dropped loads of water on the flames Saturday.
"They're cutting some new lines, they're reinforcing lines, they're
mopping up," said Peter D'Aquanni, a U.S. Forest Service spokesman.
Wind was calmer, temperatures were lower and humidity was up.
The fire, now 35 percent contained, has been burning tinder-dry oak
brush and pinon, juniper and mixed conifer trees on the east side of the
Manzanos, where terrain varies from relatively flat lower areas to
rugged higher country.
Nearly 500 people were assigned to the fire, along with two heavy air
tankers, five helicopters, 18 engines, nine water tenders and four
bulldozers.
About 400 residents of Torreon, Tajique and the surrounding area at the
foot of the Manzanos were asked to leave, but fire officials said some
people have refused.
The fire began April 15 in the Cibola National Forest. The blaze burned
nine weekend or summer homes and several outbuildings a few days later.
Gov. Bill Richardson on Friday declared Torrance County a disaster area
because of the damage. The declaration makes emergency state funding
available for firefighting efforts and to help provide emergency services.