Nogal Canyon: 6 homes destroyed in 433-acre fire

KOB Web Staff

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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The 433-acre Nogal Canyon is now 4% contained, officials confirmed in a Thursday morning news conference.

Six homes and eight outbuildings were destroyed in the fire and more remain threatened, as a Type 1 Incident Management Team has joined Lincoln County and U.S. Forest Service firefighters.

Officials said all of Nogal Canyon is under an immediate evacuation notice up to New Mexico Highway 37.

Residents in the Loma Grande area – south of Nogal Canyon from Pfingsten Road to Crockett Canyon Trail and from Crockett Canyon Trail west to Nogal Canyon Road – are being advised to prepare for evacuation.

Evacuees can go to the Carrizozo Schools and the Capitan Fairgrounds is also accepting livestock.

Nogal Canyon: 6 homes destroyed in 433-acre fire

For evacuees that do not have livestock, they are urged to go to the Carrizozo School.

A downed power line reportedly sparked the fire around 1:20 p.m. Tuesday and caused 100 acres to initially be burned. The fire burned multiple structures – including homes – as it increased to 400 acres Tuesday afternoon.

Officials said the fire is on both sides of the canyon and strong wind gusts – as high as 90 MPH – drove the fire for much of Tuesday and sparked several other spot fires when it jumped Highway 37.

This is a developing story. Stay with KOB Eyewitness News 4 and KOB.com for updates.

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