New Mexico fire soon to be largest in state history
By P. SOLOMON BANDA and SUSAN MONTOYA BRYAN, Associated Press
30 June 2011 LOS ALAMOS, N.M. (AP) – A wildfire that is threatening the nation’s premier nuclear weapons laboratory and a community in northern New Mexico is poised to become the largest fire in state history. The fire near Los Alamos has charred nearly 145 square miles, or 92,735 acres. The blaze has been growing by tens of thousands of acres a day. It’s close to surpassing New Mexico’s largest fire, the Dry Lakes fire. That blaze charred more than 94,000 acres in the Gila National Forest in 2003. Crews have managed to contain only 3 percent of the fire near Los Alamos. They’re bracing for winds that could gust up to 40 mph Thursday afternoon. Fire information officer Sandra Lopez says crews are dealing with rugged, steep country, hot temperatures and erratic winds.
