New Mexico Fire Over 216K Acres, 10% Contained
Firefighters made progress on the northern and western fronts of the Whitewater-Baldy complex fire in New Mexico’s Gila National Forest with the help of increased humidity levels.
The fire has now consumed a reported 216,000 acres and is 10 percent contained, according to a fire report.
New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez visited the Incident Command Post on Thursday. More than 1,200 personnel are battling the fire, including 60 engines, 27 water tenders and 10 helicopters.
The lightning-sparked fire is the largest in the state’s recorded history.
Successful burnout operations resulted in hardened boundaries around subdivisions, and substantial progress was made on north and western flanks, which doubled the percentage of containment, according to the ire report.
Firefighters are scouting terrain along the fire’s southwestern and eastern flanks to safely put in containment lines.
“With a chance of thunderstorms and dry lightning over the Black Hills area, resources are on hand ready to respond to any new starts that may occur,” the report states.