Fire patrol blamed for bosque blaze

CORRALES, N.M. (KRQE) - Someone who was supposed to be on the lookout for fire along the Rio Grande actually started the Romero Fire in the bosque beside Corrales, investigators have determined.

Corrales police told KRQE News 13 the blaze was started by an electronic cigarette dropped in dry brush on June 20 by a village employee. The village is not naming the employee who will not face charges but could be subject to disciplinary action following an internal investigation.

The Corrales fire chief says that village employee and two others were actually patrolling the bosque near Romero Road looking for fire when one of them dropped an electronic cigarette sparking the blaze. The group says they tried to put it out, but it just grew too fast.

The fire began on the afternoon of June 20 between Corrales and the Rio Grande, and winds spread it east across the river to Sandia Pueblo.

That's when they called the fire department.

Electronic cigarettes have a heater, power source and a liquid inside that simulates smoking. Investigators say the cigarette can get hot enough to catch cotton from cottonwood trees on fire, and that is what they believe happened.

Since it was ruled an accidental fire, New Mexico State Forestry says no one will be sent a bill for the cost of battling the blaze. The Federal Emergency Management Agency is picking up 75 percent of the cost, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the village of Corrales will have to split the rest.

There is no word on how much it cost to fight the fire. 

The blaze contributed to the decision to close public access to the bosque in three counties and limit access in metro Albuquerque.