IT’S WILDFIRE SEASON IN NEW MEXICO AND WE HAVE SEVERAL FIRES BURNING RIGHT NOW. ADDITIONAL RESOURCES HAVE BEEN ORDERED FOR THE DIENER CANYON FIRE IN THE ZUNI MOUNTAINS WEST OF GRANTS AND MILAN, WHICH HAS GROWN TO ABOUT A THOUSAND ACRES. BURNOUT OPERATIONS ON THIS FIRE WERE COMPLETED OVERNIGHT. THE BLUEWATER FIRE IS ABOUT THE SAME SIZE. BUT NEITHER FIRE HAS BEEN CONTAINED. AND PRE-EVACUATION ORDERS HAVE GONE OUT FOR RESIDENTS OF BLUEWATER ACRES AND BLUEWATER VILLAGE. WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE FRIDAY.
AN EVACUATION CENTER IS LOCATED AT GRANTS HIGH SCHOOL. THE GRANTS RODEO GROUND ARE BEING USED TO HOUSE LIVESTOCK.
MEANWHILE, TWO WILDFIRES IN SOUTHEASTERN NEW MEXICO ARE THREATENING HOMES. THE “246” FIRE EAST OF HIGHWAY 246 HAS FORCED RESIDENTS TO EVACUATE AT LEAST SEVEN HOMES IN CAPITAN.
