Northern New Mexico villagers prepare to flee as winds whip wildfire

About 35 miles northeast of Santa Fe near the village of Ledoux, flames from the Calf Canyon fire ripped through forest as high winds blew embers over a mile, spreading a wildfire that has scorched about 66,000 acres, or 103 square miles, of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains since April 6.

"It feels like your whole world is crashing," said Finley as she chose a picture painted by her grandson among items to take with her as she evacuated. "We have seen so many friends lose everything." San Miguel County Commissioner Max Trujillo interrupted music on country station KBQL to urge locals to leave their homes if authorities called for evacuation.

Extreme drought has dried logs and branches to 8% humidity, less than timber used for home construction, turning forested mountains and valleys into a potential tinderbox, according to fire behavior analyst Stewart Turner.

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New Mexico wildfire burns 166 homes, thousands ready to evacuateA drought-driven wildfire has destroyed 166 homes in northern New Mexico and is threatening hundreds more as fierce winds fan flames towards mountain villages, local officials said.
Source: ReutersScience - 🏆 559. / 51 Read more »

New Mexico wildfire burns 166 homes, thousands ready to evacuateA drought-driven wildfire has destroyed 166 homes in northern New Mexico and is threatening hundreds more as fierce winds fan flames towards mountain villages, local officials said. Thousands of residents were on standby to evacuate amid fears a Friday wind storm would push the blaze into communities in the Mora Valley, around 40 miles (64 kilometres) northeast of Santa Fe. 'Tomorrow has the potential to be another very destructive day,' incident commander Carl Schwope said in a video briefing.
Source: YahooNews - 🏆 380. / 59 Read more »