New Mexico Firefighters Complete Lines Around 30,000-Acre fire
A plume of smoke visible for miles around the Capitan Mountains is from burnout operations to slow the 31,500-acre Peppin Fire.
A plume of smoke visible for miles around the Capitan Mountains is from burnout operations to slow the 31,500-acre Peppin Fire.
``They will probably continue to see smoke for about a week or more,'' said Joe Luttman, fire information officer.
Burnouts were being done Tuesday along the southeastern and southern flanks of the fire.
Firefighters successfully conducted burnouts Monday along the eastern and southeastern portions of the blaze.
A line cleared around the lightning-caused blaze held through strong winds during the weekend.
The fire, 40 percent contained Tuesday morning, was reported May 15 in rugged terrain in the Lincoln National Forest in south-central New Mexico.
The fire has burned 12 cabins and several outbuildings along with mixed conifer, ponderosa pine, pinon and juniper trees. Many of the trees had been killed by bark beetles.
Firefighters coped with dry, warmer weather Monday.
There were 642 people assigned to the fire, along with five helicopters, 21 engines, 17 water tenders and three bulldozers.
The cost of fighting the fire stood at more than $3 million, officials said.
A MAFFS fire retardant reload unit has been established at the air tanker base in Albuquerque to allow for two C-130 military aircraft to be quickly reloaded.
MAFFS are self-contained aerial fire retardant dispersal systems that can hold up to 3,000 gallons of retardant.
The military airplanes were ordered to help fight New Mexico fires.
