FIRE CREWS ARE KEEPING A WATCH ON THE SMALL FIRES THAT FLARED UP IN THE MANZANO MOUNTAINS LAST SUNDAY. ARLENE PEREA WITH THE MOUNTAINAIR RANGER DISTRICT SAYS THREE ARE OUT … BUT SMOKE JUMPERS ARE STILL WORKING THE PACK TRAIL FIRE IN THE MANZANO WILDERNESS.
ALL FOUR WERE STARTED BY SUNDAY'S HUGE LIGHTNING STORM. PEREA TELLS US THEY FIGURE THERE WERE ABOUT A THOUSAND STRIKES ON THE MANZANO MOUNTAINS ALONE. SHE SAYS THEY ESTIMATE MORE THAN 4-THOUSAND STRIKES FROM THE MANZANOS TO THE ESTANCIA VALLEY, THE GALLINAS MOUNTAINS, AND PART OF THE WEST SIDE OF THE MANZANOS.
PEREA SAYS THEY LIKELY HAVE WHAT THEY CALL "SLEEPER FIRES" SMOLDERING UNDER THE BRUSH THAT THEY EXPECT TO SPARK UP AGAIN WHEN IT GETS DRIER.
