THREE RIVERS, N.M. – Rain and snow helped crews working to keep a wildfire from spreading in forested mountains in south-central New Mexico, officials said Wednesday.
The fire was located west of the Ski Apache ski resort in the Sacramento Mountains and its size was estimated at 12,000 acres, with containment around 5% of its perimeter as of Wednesday.
Damp conditions lessened fire activity as the blaze reached the scar from a previous wildfire, meaning there was less live vegetation to burn but more dry debris on the forest flood, officials said.
The fire started Monday and its cause remained under investigation.
Evacuation notices were lifted Tuesday for most areas in the vicinity of the fire.