Crews put out Chimayo Fire hot spots

CHIMAYO (KRQE) - Fire crews have been monitoring hot spots, after a wind-swept fire destroyed one home and damaged another, forcing a neighborhood to be evacuated in Chimayo Sunday.

Investigators are now looking into what sparked the 10-acre blaze.   

"It's just a big devastation," said Diana Rios who grew up in the house that was burned down.

The fire threatened the neighborhood because of the flying embers spread by the wind.

"It was black. It was cloudy. Ash was falling everywhere. The heat against your face was so intense it was like being in the fire," said neighbor Angelique Borrego-Herrera. 

Borrego-Herrera was watching the fire near State Road-76, taking pictures of the flames around 7 p.m. Then she heard that the fire jumped to her own yard. Her house is about 400 yards away.

Neighbors helped in the cleanup.

"It's going to be a lot of cleanup, a lot of cleanup," said neighbor Joshua Vigil, while holding his shovel.

Garages, trees and an old school bus were destroyed.

State Forestry says less than 10 acres burned.

Officials are not saying how it started but say it was accidental. Neighbors say the fire started from someone burning branches.

Diana Rios, who lost the home she spent 30 years in, is thankful no one was hurt.

"My father was here earlier and he was very heartbroken about it also, because both my mom and dad built the house," said Rios.

Some fire crews will remain in Chimayo Monday night watching for any flare-ups.

Electrical crews have been working all day to restore power to some homes in the neighborhood after the fire knocked it out Sunday night.