LAS VEGAS, N.M. (Washington Insider Magazine) – Destructive, strong winds were projected for northeast New Mexico on Monday, worsening the battle against wildfires that endanger thousands of houses in mountainous rural towns.
The region’s biggest city, Las Vegas, New Mexico, with a population of 13,000 inhabitants, was essentially safe when firefighters prevented the wildfire from spreading east. However, with wind gusts exceeding 50 mph, the wildfire’s southern and northern flanks proved more difficult to suppress.
A “red flag warning,” which signals a high fire risk owing to heat, wind gusts, and dry weather, will be in effect until Monday night, roughly 4 days after it was issued.
More than 1,600 firemen were out fighting 2 big wildfires northeast of Santa Fe, New Mexico, on Sunday. They encompassed a total area of 275 square miles, over twice the size of Philadelphia. According to ABC NEWS, firefighters had put out roughly half of the flames by Sunday night.
Still, the danger was far from over, with the National Interagency Fire Center reported early Sunday that the blaze, which has burned approximately 300 homes in the last 2 weeks, was threatening more than 20,000 properties.
Fast winds are a fireman’s deadliest nightmare in many aspects, especially when the weather is as dry and hot as it has been in the Southwest since early April.
These winds not only spread and feed the flames, but they also keep light aircraft and air carriers grounded. This prevented them from dropping water directly on the flames or laying down retardant ahead of its route, allowing excavators and ground personnel to establish firebreaks in areas in which there are no roads or highways to help prevent the spread.
Even helicopters that can normally get high in the sky — at least in the early hours of the morning before the winds crank up in the afternoon — are stranded under severe circumstances like those in New Mexico. This prohibits them from acquiring intelligence on occurrences that occur during night. Early Sunday, aircraft were permitted to fly, but by the afternoon, they were grounded.
Winds had blown up more flares on the northern perimeter of the fire, near some relatively tiny villages of several hundred people, which authorities were concerned about. Winds had driven the fire down towards a canyon, making it very difficult to reach, according to incident commander Dave Bales.
He and other personnel encouraged people to be prepared to leave or evacuate as soon as they were notified. Congested routes and heavy smoke might make it difficult for people to evacuate and firefighters to enter the region if a fire overwhelms a settlement, he warned.
Those communities are located along the state highway that extends from Las Vegas, New Mexico, to Taos, a famous ski and outdoor activity destination. Although Taos was not affected, residents in other portions of Taos County were advised to brace for probable evacuations.
On Saturday, several inhabitants of the little town of Las Vegas began to return, and many local enterprises reopened. Bulldozer-created containment barriers, as well as the wind’s course, helped protect the community throughout the weekend. However, some fire authorities advised residents to heed evacuation orders since conditions might swiftly change.
According to the National Interagency Fire Center, about 2,000 square miles of land had burnt so far this year, with 2018 being the previous time this much wildfire has been documented at this point. Hotter temperatures and long-term dryness caused by global warming have exacerbated the threat of wildfire in the West, and forecasts for the remainder of the spring do not seem promising.