New Mexico Wildfire Blamed on Illegal Campfire
Source The Daily Times, Farmington, N.M.
FARMINGTON, N.M. -- An illegal, abandoned campfire caused the 352-acre fire in Bloomfield on Monday, according to a New Mexico State Forestry Division news release Wednesday.
Investigators found evidence that the campfire had been burning Monday on land operated by the New Mexico Game and Fish Department along the San Juan River, just east of Bloomfield.
It later grew to become the County Road 4901 Fire, known statewide as the Blanco Fire.
It is believed to be the largest county brush fire in the past decade, if not longer. It was 85-percent contained Wednesday evening.
Investigators from the San Juan County Sheriff's Department and the state forestry division believe the campfire was left burning Monday before winds pushed embers into nearby tall, dry vegetation.
"We're not sure if they tried to put it out," said Dan Ware, spokesperson for the division.
Investigators do not yet know who was responsible for the fire, though they are continuing interviews, Ware said.
"Nobody seemed to see anything," said Ware.
The fire rapidly traveled to salt cedar, Russian olive and cottonwood trees. Salt cedar trees are known for emitting a highly flammable oily substance when exposed to intense heat, which enabled the fire to move rapidly to nearby private property.
"It was highly volatile," said Craig Daugherty, deputy chief of the San Juan County Fire Department. The fire claimed five homes and 12 outbuildings. No residents reported injuries, though one San
Juan County firefighter and two Sheriff's officers were treated for smoke inhalation.
Fire departments, police departments and other agencies from around the state, and from Colorado, were recruited for assistance Monday and Tuesday.
About 120 firefighters using about 30 fire vehicles and several aircraft battled the fire Monday afternoon and evening.
"Hot. It was hot," said Ben Lujan, a firefighter from Taos.
About half of the fire crews left Wednesday morning, leaving about 60 members to tend to areas still under advisory.
County Road 4992 was the only road still under advisory Wednesday, though all other roads in the area.
The cost of the damage is not yet known, according to the San Juan County Assessor's Office.
The cost for the state is expected to be several hundred thousand dollars, Daugherty said. About 75 percent of the pricetag will be covered by the emergency assistance grant approved Tuesday by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
The New Mexico State Forestry Division also investigated the three-acre Turley fire, which destroyed one home and was caused by engine exhaust particles that flew into a drainage ditch filled with grass, dead leaves, and cottonwood seeds.
The San Juan County Chapter of the American Red Cross was able to contribute thousands of dollars worth of donations to the families who lost their homes, said Amanda Romano, head of disaster services.
Further material donations can be brought to the Humane Society Thrift Store in Farmington, where families can pick up donations. Monetary donations can be brought to the San Juan County Chapter of the American Red Cross, also in Farmington.
The forestry division encouraged everyone to visit nmforestry.com for more information on how to prevent fires.
Copyright 2012 - The Daily Times, Farmington, N.M.
McClatchy-Tribune News Service
