Las Conchas wildfire declared fully contained
Las Conchas wildfire declared fully contained
02 August 2011
published by www.newswest9.com
USA — Crews have declared 100% containment on the largest wildfire in New Mexico’s recorded history.
The Las Conchas fire burned more than 244 square miles over 36 days in the mountains surrounding Los Alamos.
The fire started June 26 when a tree fell on a power line. The flames raced across parts of Valles Caldera National Preserve, Bandelier National Monument and lands belonging to northern New Mexico pueblos.
Santa Fe National Forest Supervisor Maria Garcia says “it’s been a tough six weeks” and commended the work of the thousands of firefighters who battled the blaze.
Forest officials now are assessing hazards caused by the blaze, including threats from flash flooding, falling trees, and rolling rocks.
Another blaze, the Pacheco fire, was declared 100% contained on Sunday. It burned 16 square miles in the Sangre de Cristo mountains northeast of Santa Fe.