Fires smoking up parts of New Mexico

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - A controlled burn is sending smoke into Grants and Milan while a three wildfires are sending up plumes and threatening a ranch house west of Artesia.

New Mexico State Forestry reports lightning from a dry thunderstorm sparked the three wildfires in the area of Piñon and Dunken in the Sacramento Mountains foothills about 50 miles west of Artesia and 20 miles southeast of Weed.

The Barclay Fire started about 2 p.m. Tuesday and by 5 p.m. had burned through an estimated 200 acres of grass, piñon and juniper about six miles east of Piñon.  New Mexico State Forestry described the fire as very active and posing a potential threat to a ranch house.

An air tanker is being sent to the Barclay Fire due to the threat to the home.  However, State Forestry said the property is not yet being evacuated.

Firefighters from Otero County and the U.S. Forest Service are en route to the fire.  The fire is believed to be on the Lincoln National Forest.

The Cox Fire nearby was estimated at 70 acres but not threatening any buildings.

No information was available on the fire near Hope.

The controlled burn in the Zuni Mountains was to end Tuesday.