ARABELA, N.M. (AP) - Crews were busy Monday building fire lines in preparation for a shift in the wind as a blaze that has already charred thousands of acres and destroyed at least three cabins in south-central New Mexico grows.
State and federal officials say the fire has ballooned to more than 12 square miles (31.8 kilometers) since first being reported last week.
The blaze outside of the small community of Arabela, New Mexico, is one of several burning in the state and neighboring Arizona. Forecasts show the potential risk for significant fire activity across the region for the next several days is low to moderate.
There are cabins and ranches in the area as well as communication structures and archaeological and historical sites. Crews burned and cleared out vegetation along roads in hopes of corralling the flames to keep them from reaching any of the structures. In other areas, fire retardant was used.
Officials confirmed at least three cabins and a vehicle were burned when the fire was first reported last Wednesday. The cause is under investigation.
Fire officials planned to update residents during a public meeting in nearby Capitan on Monday night.
Jim Schrader told the Carlsbad Current-Argus that his family owned one of the cabins lost to the fire in the Capitan Mountains Wilderness. It had been in the family for about a century, he said.
“It’s a pretty sad day. No doubt about it,” he said.
There were once up to 20 cabins in the area near Boy Scout Mountain, Schrader said. All but six burned down in previous fires, and subsequent regulations could make it difficult to rebuild, he said.
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