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Fires Snow Helping Firefighters Corral Ojo Peak Fire |
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fire
July 26, 2003
Crews Battle Lightning-Sparked Fires in Carson National Forest
The Associated Press
CUNDIYO — Firefighters and air tankers were battling more than a dozen fires Saturday in the Carson National Forest that were sparked by lightning.
The largest, the Orcanes Fire, was burning about seven miles southeast of Arboles, Colo., in the Jicarilla Ranger District. Several crews, a bulldozer and air tankers were working on the fire Saturday to keep it from getting as active as it had been on the previous day. Peralta said flames shot as high as 70 feet into the air Friday.
Two gas wells within a half mile of the fire were turned off Friday as a precaution.
Fire information officer Ignacio Peralta said the fire had burned about 75 acres of piñon and juniper trees on top of a mesa. He had no estimate of when the fire would be contained.
Firefighters had a small stretch of fire line to complete before declaring the Molina Complex contained after it burned some 7,240 acres on the Santa Fe National Forest.
The fire was listed at 95 percent contained Saturday. Full containment of the fire, which was originally expected Friday, was extended for a couple of days.
In the Gila National Forest, fire officials were busy managing 45 lightning-sparked fires that have been reported throughout the week. None was larger than 10 acres, and crews responded quickly to put out many of the starts, said Gila National Forest spokeswoman Loretta Ray.
The Spruce Complex, located about 3 miles east of the community of Mogollon, has burned 9,452 acres and was 23 percent contained Saturday. Higher humidity and cooler temperatures have helped the nearly 160 firefighters working on the complex.
The Hondo Fire Complex in the Santa Fe National Forest was completely contained Friday, forest spokeswoman Dolores Maese said. The fire burned 19 acres and consisted of the Hondo, Cerro, Bearhead and Ruiz fires.
Gila officials also continue to monitor parts of the 93,804-acre Dry Lake Complex. Firefighters continued to try to suppress the 17,485-acre Turnbo within the complex.
Three more fires were reported Saturday in the Carson forest. Peralta said firefighters were sent to the largest of those fires.
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