32 Homes Burned in New Mexico Fires

Wind-whipped grass fires pushed into affluent residential areas in the pine-studded southern New Mexico mountains Saturday, burning at least 32 homes and forcing more than 1,300 residents to evacuate.

Two fires consumed at least 3,400 acres, including 1,000 acres in the Kokopelli Fire, named after a subdivision where the homes burned, firefighters said.

A third blaze, called the 5-2 Fire, which started on the Mescalero Apache reservation, burned about 2,400 acres, according to the state Public Safety Department.

No injuries have been reported, officials said.

The Kokopelli fire started around noon in a residential driveway, Lincoln County Sheriff Tom Sullivan said. He said the possibility of arson was under investigation.

“It’s very suspicious the way it started,” Sullivan said. “It’s just in an area where there wasn’t anybody around. We’re just not sure why it got started there.”

Terri Wildermuth, spokeswoman for the state Forestry Division, said the Kokopelli fire was “human caused” but declined to elaborate. She said the cause of the other fire had not been determined.

Three air tankers dropped retardant on the fires, but the winds were so intense that planes and helicopters were grounded in the evening, said Gwen Shaffer, Forest Service spokeswoman. Gusts up to 60 mph were reported.

Winds died down after sundown, and firefighters said that mostly unpopulated, open country remained in the path of the blaze.

Police Lt. Wolf Born said the 32 homes were burned north and northeast of Ruidoso, a mountain resort known for skiing in the winter and horse racing in the summer.

Gov. Gary Johnson said more than 1,300 people had been evacuated.

“Bad news--it’s really bad news,” Johnson said.