GRANTS, N.M. (AP) - A Cibola National Forest official has apologized for approving a prescribed burn that started a wildfire that has burned 14.5 square miles (37.56 sq. kilometers) on a northwestern New Mexico mountain.
The Gallup Independent reports that District Ranger Alvin Whitehair apologized during a Tuesday evening community meeting with residents for deciding to conduct the burn.
Whitehair said his staff was involved in the decision but that residents deserve to know that he had “the ultimate yea or nay.”
The fire is burning timber and grass on Mount Sedgwick northwest of Grants. Containment reached 91 percent Friday.
Fire management officer Anthony Pacheco said officials on April 11 halted the burn because of a windy forecast but that blowing debris from the burn started the wildfire the next day.
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