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Saturday, April 26, 2008

Fire Crews Mop Up Manzano Mountains Fire


Associated Press
      
    MANZANO — Fire crews planned to put out hot spots in the interior of a fire in the Manzano Mountains on Saturday while they wait a day for winds to cooperate so they can secure fire lines on the blaze's southern side.
    The 4,910-acre Trigo Fire started April 15 in the Cibola National Forest and burned nine weekend or summer homes a week ago as blustery winds sent it racing between the towns of Manzano and Torreon. It was nearly 60 percent contained Saturday.
    "We'll do burnout tomorrow when weather is more favorable for burnout to secure lines where we have unburned fuel,'' fire information officer Dan Bastion said Saturday. "Every day the containment figure is going to go up until we get it completely corralled.''
    The burnout area is in rugged territory in the Manzano Mountains that cannot be accessed by bulldozers. Hand crews will have to burn out a line around the fire to keep it from spreading in the forest, Bastion said.
    About 475 people, including six Hot Shot crews, nine Type II crews and 15 engines, are still working the fire, but some firefighters could be leaving as early as Monday if weather conditions are favorable, he said.
    Two air tankers and four helicopters are available, but Bastion said he did not think they would be needed Saturday.
    Forest officials have scheduled a public meeting in Torreon on Saturday evening to talk about the fire, its after-effects, like erosion, and restoration efforts they can do, like reseeding.
    "We're talking about where we're going to go from here,'' he said.
    The human caused fire, which also destroyed nine outbuildings and two recreational vehicles, has cost $4.8 million to fight.
    Road and campground closures due to the fire remain in place. They include New Canyon Road to Capilla Peak, Red Canyon Campground and Forest Road 358 into Bartolo Canyon.
    In southeastern New Mexico, high temperatures, low humidity and wind have resulted in extreme fire danger. The Bureau of Land Management said it will impose fire restrictions for public lands in Lincoln, Chaves, Lea, DeBaca, Guadalupe, Roosevelt and Eddy counties.
    The Fort Stanton area and BLM land surrounding the town of Lincoln will be closed beginning May 1 because of the fire danger. The area already is under stage II fire restrictions.

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