SILVER CITY, N.M. – New Mexico officials are concerned that stronger winds Tuesday afternoon will hinder firefighters battling a wildfire that has destroyed up to 15 homes and forced the evacuation of 100 people near Silver City.
Officials told a noon public meeting that they could not yet say what individual buildings had burned as the flames scorched through grass, scrub oak and pinon and juniper trees. The fire was about 20 percent contained.
State Forestry spokesman Dan Ware said the fire in a rugged rural area south of Silver City had burned nearly 1,800 acres, or almost 3 square miles.
Fire crews dealt with hot spots Tuesday morning when fire activity was light, and two air tankers dropped fire retardant on the flames.
