CLOVIS, N.M. — Firefighters have battled a rare winter blaze in eastern New Mexico amid conditions ripe for winter wildfires from the mid-South through the Great Plains.
The Eastern New Mexico News reports authorities on Sunday were able to contain the grass fire north of Clovis, New Mexico, that grew to 3.1 square miles (8 square kilometers).
Clovis Fire Department Battalion Chief Joel Gershon says there were no injuries or structures damaged.
The cause of the fire wasn’t immediately clear.
Officials warn that eastern New Mexico may see rare winter fires this season thanks to a combination of weather factors, including the climate phenomenon known as La Nina. Those conditions have left a lot of dry growth.
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This story corrects a previous version that had the fire’s incorrect square kilometers conversion.
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Information from: The Eastern New Mexico News, http://www.easternnewmexiconews.com
