Winds cooperating in Ruidoso fire fight

RUIDOSO DOWNS, N.M. (KRQE) - The White Fire swelled to 6,500 acres Monday as it consumed at least five homes, but firefighters now are taking advantage of a dramatic drop in wind speeds.

Latest estimates are that it scorched 6,500 acres and is now 20 percent contained. Some residents evacuated from their homes are being allowed to return.

The fire was reported about 1:30 p.m. Sunday and quickly exploded as 60 mph winds drove it through drought-stricken grasses and timber.

Bulldozer operators are spanning the perimeter of the fire and working on containment. Eighty percent of the burn acreage is in the Lincoln National Forest.

Crews will be treating the flames that jumped U.S. Highway 70 near Fox Cave.

Three places north of Highway 70--River Ranch RV Park, the River Trail area and an area known as Spaghetti Flats--remain under evacuation orders.

So far five homes have been destroyed along with the Cowboy Stables near the Ruidoso Downs Racetrack.

One horse said not to be a race horse died in the fire. Fire officials said it likely died from smoke inhalation.

Multiple barns and other structures in that area were also destroyed.

Fire crews say the weather Monday is making all the difference.

"Today we are in a much better scenario," Incident Commander Eddie Tudor said. "We had a cold front that passed over overnight; the winds have changed direction and lowered the temperatures down 10 to 15 or lower.

"It's increased our relative humidity and dropped winds down significantly. All of that is in our favor today."

Smoke is very heavy out in the area, and the elderly and those with breathing problems are being advised to stay inside.

Because the fire isn't contained, residents near the perimeter have been told they should be ready to evacuate at a moment's notice.

An hotline has been set up for residents with questions. That number is (575) 257-3473.

Elsewhere in New Mexico the Sevilleta Fire south of Belen held steady overnight and remains at 25 percent contained.

It has burned about 2,000 acres since it started Saturday afternoon along the Rio Grande north of U.S. Highway 60 near Bernardo.

The cause is unknown.

The Monte Largo fire in the Albuquerque foothills is 100 percent contained. The blaze started Saturday and burned 40 acres.

Authorities said the fire appears to be human-caused and that they are looking for three men seen leaving the area.

."We had reports of three young adults leaving the area, but we were unable to interview them or identify who they were," Breen said.

The high winds were not just a problem for firefighters trying to gain control of the fires. They also knocked out power to almost 4,000 customers in New Mexico.

A number of transmission lines feeding into Edgewood and surrounding areas were affected.

Early Monday morning crews were still working on restoring service and were expecting to be done by 9:30 a.m.

At least 27 wildfires were reported around the state over the weekend, according to the New Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management.  The agency also reported the Federal Emergency Management Agency has approved a grant to help cover firefighting cost around Ruidoso.