Cerro Grande evacuation remembered

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) -
Ten years to the day that citizens of Los Alamos were evacuated because of the Cerro Grande Fire, the anniversary is being remembered in an informal event this evening.

May 10, 2000 was the last day for some residents to see their homes intact.

The controlled burn that began just days before had jumped the fire lines and started to ravage the town.  Los Alamos residents were evacuated and all but a few who chose to stick it out in their homes and fire crews remained.

In all, over 350 homes were destroyed.

Finally after one month, the blaze was contained.  Two and a half months later it was completely put out.

The event will start at 6 tonight near the "Touch The Sky" statue at the northwest corner of Ashley Pond Park in Los Alamos.

According to the Los Alamos County website, the event will be informal.  There'll also be a reading of a special proclamation followed by a moment of silence.

The statue in Ashley Pond Park was dedicated in May 2001, one year after the fires.