Crews Mopping Up Fires In New Mexico

CAPITAN, N.M. (AP) -- Crews on Tuesday were mopping up two small fires in separate parts of the Lincoln National Forest.

Firefighters cleared a line around a 6-acre blaze that burned in mixed conifer trees near Cloudcroft.

That fire is not expected to spread any further because winds remain light, Lincoln spokesman Joe Garcia said.

The fire, three to five miles northeast of Timburon, was reported Monday afternoon. It did not threaten any structures, Garcia said.

Officials had not determine what started the Monument Springs Fire.

Firefighters were monitoring the second blaze, the Pippen Fire, which burned 12 acres of downed trees amid rocks in a Lincoln canyon six miles northeast of Capitan.

``It's eating up fuels that need to be eaten up,'' said Jay Esperance, fire management officer.

The blaze, started Saturday by lightning, was burning in an area without any structures, Garcia said.