A SMALL FIRE IN THE SANDIA MOUNTAINS IS BASCIALLY OUT. SANDIA RANGER DISTRICT SPOKESMAN JOHN HELMICH TELLS 770 KKOB THE TUF-SHUR FIRE WAS SPOTTED SUNDAY NIGHT AND HAS BURNED ABOUT A 10TH OF AN ACRE.
HELMICH SAYS NO CREWS WERE SENT IN FOR A WHILE BECAUSE IT'S BEEN SO WET, CONDITIONS COULD HAVE POSED A DANGER TO FIRE PERSONNEL. BUT THEY KEPT WATCH ON THE FIRE FROM A DISTANCE, THEN WENT IN ON TUESDAY MORNING AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A WATER-DROP WILL BE DONE TO MAKE SURE THE FIRE IS COLD.
HELMICH SAYS IT WAS PROBABLY A LIGHTNING STRIKE THAT STARTED THE FIRE, BUT THE INVESTIGATION INTO THE CAUSE CONTINUES. THE FIRE WAS NEAR WHERE THE CHIMNEY FIRE BURNED LAST YEAR, JUST SLIGHTLY NORTH OF THE LA LUZ TRAIL AREA.
