Officials: New Mexico fire has burned nearly 60 homes

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- Firefighters worked in cooler, calmer weather Saturday to clear lines around a blaze that has burned nearly 60 homes and more than 20 square miles in the mountains of central New Mexico.

Authorities were able to confirm Saturday that 50 homes burned Wednesday in a fire caused by humans in the Manzano Mountains, southeast of Albuquerque, said Linda Peters, a fire information officer. Nine homes had burned earlier.

The 50 homes -- most in an area called Sherwood Forest, west of the community of Torreon -- went up Wednesday after the fire jumped containment lines.

The tally was conducted Friday and Saturday when the ashes from the 13,790-acre fire had cooled enough to allow authorities in, Peters said.

The blaze had been 95 percent contained before a spot fire flared Wednesday and wind gusts of more than 50 mph drove the flames to the northeast.

Crews used hand tools and bulldozers to slash lines around the fire as helicopters dropped loads of water on the flames Saturday.

"They're cutting some new lines, they're reinforcing lines, they're mopping up," said Peter D'Aquanni, a U.S. Forest Service spokesman.

On Saturday, wind was calmer, temperatures were lower and humidity was up. The fire was 35 percent contained.

It has been burning tinder-dry oak brush and pinon, juniper and mixed conifer trees on the east side of the Manzanos, where terrain varies from relatively flat lower areas to rugged higher country.

Nearly 500 people were assigned to the fire, along with two heavy air tankers, five helicopters, 18 engines, nine water tenders and four bulldozers.

About 400 residents of Torreon, Tajique and the surrounding area at the foot of the Manzanos were asked to leave, but fire officials said some people have refused.

The fire began April 15 in the Cibola National Forest. The blaze burned nine weekend or summer homes and several outbuildings a few days later.

Gov. Bill Richardson on Friday declared Torrance County a disaster area because of the damage. The declaration makes emergency state funding available for firefighting efforts and to help provide emergency services.