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Thursday, May 01, 2008

Latest on Trigo Fire


For the Journal
      By Laura Nesbitt
    Mountain View Telegraph
    Torrance County Emergency Management and other officials met with about 150 residents affected by the Trigo fire May 1 at an emergency American Red Cross shelter and service center set up at the Estancia Community Center.
    Ten Pines, La Questa and Fourth of July Roads, along with Torreon and Tajique “and everything in-between” those two towns has been evacuated, said County Emergency Manager John Cordova.
    People living in the South 14 or N.M. 337 area “should be ready to evacuate,” Cordova said.
       Officials are unable to say how many structures have been lost because of the amount of smoke generated from the fire.
    “We know that we have hot spots and have lost some structures,” Cordova said.
    Some power lines were reported down from the base of some of the towers but officials are unable to say whether those were back-up lines or not, Cordova said.
    According to Cordova, there have been no reports that the observatory on the peak has burned and the towers are all okay.
    A state of emergency may be declared soon, he said.
    “There are 200 firefighters on the ground now from every agency in New Mexico. There are firefighters coming in as we’re speaking now,” said Karen Takai, the Sandia Ranger District’s fire information officer.
    Winds were between 40 to 60 m.p.h. which kept air tankers, helicopters and the helitack crews on the ground, Takai said.
    “It’s difficult to hold back that ugly dragon” of fire with winds this strong, Takai said.
    The Type 1 Team is expected in by 6 p.m. tonight to take over, Takai said. She explained that those firefighters have “more resources and different training.”
    Sheriff Clarence Gibson said that law enforcement will stay “active” in the area.
    “Until you guys go home, we’ll be there,” Gibson said.
    For more information about losing a home in the fire, call the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission Trigo fire hotline at 866-913-1011
    Dixie Boyle, the look-out posted in the fire tower, has been evacuated safely, according to Takai.