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Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Crews Hope To Stay Ahead of Winds in 4,425-Acre Trigo Fire


Associated Press
      MANZANO — Firefighters hoping to stay ahead of predicted winds were concentrating efforts today near Capilla Peak on the northern end of a 4,425-acre blaze in the Manzano Mountains.
    Some 25 small spot fires broke out late Tuesday afternoon on the Trigo Fire's northern perimeter, said information officer Deanna Younger. They ignited after the wind shifted, sending embers flying from an area where firefighters were burning out fuel to strengthen the control lines, she said.
    "We had crews there and were able to catch all of them and maintain the control line," Younger said.
    Today's forecast called for winds to blow from the south by afternoon, which Younger said would push the fire's northern boundary. Crews were preparing for gusts of up to 35 mph and low humidity through Thursday.
    "That's why we're trying to get that line strengthened," Younger said.
    The blaze began April 15 in the Cibola National Forest on the west side of the Manzanos and burned east onto private land and toward the small communities of Manzano and Torreon, threatening both communities over the weekend.
    Crews have started mop-up operations on the western flank where the blaze started, Younger said. On the east side, near the village of Manzano, "we have strong control lines in that area and that part of the fire also is secure," she said.
    An electrical crew was trying to restore transmission lines that burned Sunday, she said. The fire took out eight power poles, cutting electricity to electronic sites on Capilla Peak. Younger said those sites have been running off backup generators.
    Officials believe the Trigo Fire — which has burned nine homes, nine outbuildings and two recreational vehicles — was human-caused. Investigators have pinpointed where it began, but have not determined exactly who did it or how.
    The fire was 36 percent contained.
    Meanwhile, nearly all the Lincoln National Forest of southern New Mexico will close to public use May 1 due to high fire danger. Highways and county roads through the Lincoln will remain open, but forest roads, picnic areas and most campgrounds will shut down.
    In addition, the 228,700-acre Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge in central New Mexico has closed its bosque areas to public recreation because of extreme fire danger.

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