Lightning sparks wildfires in Pecos Canyon
Firefighters are responding to three lightning-caused wildfires burning in the Pecos Canyon area
TERERRO, N.M. —
Three lightning-caused wildfires are burning in the Pecos Canyon area as of Wednesday. Firefighters are attacking the flames from both the air and ground to keep it from spreading.
The largest of the three, the Macho Fire, has grown to approximately two acres and is burning about 1.6 miles west of the Field Tract Campground. Firefighters have deployed a helicopter, three engines and ground crews to contain the blaze.
Two smaller fires, the Sierra Fire and the Windy Bridge Fire, are each estimated at one-tenth of an acre. Both are located near the Windy Bridge Picnic area, with volunteer firefighters assisting suppression efforts on the Windy Bridge Fire.
Smoke from all three fires is visible from State Road 63, the Village of Pecos, Lower La Posada and Terrero.
A helicopter is drawing water from Monastery Lake, west of State Road 63, to make repeated water drops on the fires while crews on the ground work to establish containment lines.
Officials asked the public to avoid the area, use extra caution while traveling through Pecos Canyon and stay out of the way of firefighters and aircraft as suppression efforts continue.
For the latest on these fires, and more burning across the state, click here.
