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Homes threatened in Grants fire; at least 300 acres burned in Socorro, no reported injuries
Homes are being threatened in the area of Sage Avenue and Alamo Street in Grants, according to Grants Fire & Rescue.
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Two fires ignited across New Mexico on Sunday that caused people to evacuate.
The causes of the fires are being investigated, but "I'm sure this was driven by wind," New Mexico State Forestry Division spokesperson George Ducker told the Journal. Wind gusts reached over 45 mph across parts of the state Sunday, according to the National Weather Service in Albuquerque.
In Grants, the Balsam Fire caused people to evacuate.
A couple of acres burned in the area of Balsam Street and Sage Avenue, but its forward progress has stopped, Ducker said. No injuries were reported but people had to be evacuated, he said just before 10 p.m. Sunday.
Ducker said that some structures were destroyed but no other details were immediately available.
"Please stay away from the area to allow emergency personnel to (do) their jobs without interference," Grants Fire & Rescue said in a Facebook post.
Pearl Chamberlin said in a Facebook post she had to evacuate, though the fire missed her home.
"Scary sight in Grants," she said.
The Way, Truth & Life Ministries, 700 Sakelares Blvd., opened for evacuees late Sunday, Ducker said.
About 130 miles southeast of Grants, at about 5 p.m., the Otero Fire was reported on the east side of Socorro by the Rio Grande. No one was reported injured and no structures have been threatened, Ducker said.
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About "300-plus acres" have burned so far, he said.
Fortunately, Ducker said, the wind has pushed the fire away from Socorro and the river.
"This is the time everyone is arriving on scene figuring out where the head of the fire is," he said. "You don't want to be in front of the fire, you want to be on the side of it."
