WASHINGTON: Authorities in the US state of New Mexico said almost 300 structures have been destroyed as large wildfires are expected to be exacerbated by high winds, dry air, and warmer temperatures in the coming days.
According to the latest information from the state fire department, the Calf Canyon and Hermits Peak fires have burned approximately 66,000 acres of land and are just 37% contained. Crews can no longer battle the fire vigorously at its edges after wind-fanned flames reach heights of more than 5 feet, according to Mike Johnson, a spokesman for the incident management team supervising the Calf Canyon and Hermits Peak fires.
Another huge fire, the Cerro Pelado Fire, which started a week ago and is burning amid ponderosa pine and mixed conifer trees and scrub approximately 7 miles east of Jemez Springs, also in the northern area of the state, is only 15% contained.
According to the state fire department, the fire destroyed three residences and burned 7,245 acres. The Freelove Fire began on the western edge of the Valles Caldera National Preserve in the Freelove Canyon region on Thursday afternoon.
A 10-acre wildfire was recorded earlier this week on the Alamo Navajo Indian Reservation, about four miles east of Alamo. Local media claimed that the McBride Fire, which destroyed 207 homes earlier this month near Ruidoso, was 95 percent contained, while the Nogal Canyon Fire was completely extinguished.
Missing tourist boat located underwater off at Hokkaido in Japan
UN Sec-General on Ramadan solidarity visit to Africa
UN Security Council approves technical rollover of the UN mission in Libya's mandate