The fire had burned 2,500 acres in high, rugged terrain on Mount Sedgwick and in nearby canyons within the Cibola National Forest by late Sunday night, said Paula Shattuck, fire information officer. The fire, which began Saturday, was 5 percent contained.
About half of the acres were intentionally burned in a controlled manner to reduce fuels before the main fire reached the area, Shattuck said.
``The fuels are very dry,'' she said. ``Winds were down (Sunday), which is in our favor.''
No structures are threatened, Shattuck said
An estimated 300 personnel were assigned to the fire.
Six helicopters were assigned to the fire Sunday afternoon. Two C-130 military aircraft also were used to make 10 fire retardant drops Sunday.
Seven engines, six water tenders and four bulldozers were also assigned to the fire.
A Type 2 team was brought in to manage the fast-growing fire.
Meanwhile, crews continued fighting the 60,400-acre Peppin Fire in the Capitan Mountains on the Lincoln National Forest.
``It continues to be active on the southeast flank,'' Margo Whitt, fire information officer, said Sunday.
Crews were continuing burnout operations to complete a fire line on the southern edge.
The month-old fire, which was 85 percent contained, was sparked by lightning six miles northeast of Capitan in south-central New Mexico. It has burned 12 cabins.
There were 200 people assigned to the fire, along with two helicopters, five engines, one dozer and two water tenders.
The Peppin Fire has cost more than $6.3 million, officials said.
