Ariz. firefighters head to N. Mexico to battle wildfire
Ariz. firefighters head to N. Mexico to battle wildfire
1 May 2008
published by ktar.com
USA — Many of Arizona’s firefighters have been, or are, being sent to New Mexico to help battle a very dangerous and destructive wildfire.
An incident management team that has helped fight several of Arizona’s largest fires has now been called into help fight the growing Trigo’ fire south of Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Jeff Whitney’s Southwest Area Type 1 Incident Management Team will take over the fire tonight.
The Type 1 team is well-versed in dealing with complex wildfires such as the 2003 Aspen’ fire near Tucson, the Rodeo-Chediski’ fire in 2002 (state’s largest ever) and the 2005 Cave Creek complex in the north Valley that burned 250,000 acres (second most in state history)
Jim Payne with the U.S. Forest Service said 60 mph winds yesterday turned the Trigo’ fire from a 5,000 acre wildfire into a more than an 11,000 acre blaze in the course of just a few hours.
The fire destroyed nine homes last week and may have lost more yesterday.
Hundreds of homes are being threatened right now.
