Strong winds have grounded firefighting aircraft at a 40-square-mile wildfire in southern New Mexico.
Winds have been blowing up to 35 mph at the blaze near the mountain community of Ruidoso on Sunday. Crews were still working to build a fire line around the fire, which has damaged or destroyed 36 structures.
Crews also were fighting a 22-square-mile wildfire burning erratically in Colorado, about 15 miles west of Fort Collins. Eighteen structures have been burned.
The blazes have forced hundreds of people from their homes and the evacuation of wolves from a sanctuary.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.
Ruidoso Wildfire Update
Structures/threats: 36 (a complete damage assessment has not been made yet)
Summary: The Southwest Area Type 1 Incident Management Team, commanded by Joe Reinarz, assumed management of this fire from the Pecos Zone Type 3 Interagency Management Team Sunday. We cannot overemphasize the fact that the strategy for this fire is, and has been since the start, full suppression. A primary objective is to keep fire north of State Highways 220 and 532, and south of State Highway 380.
Sunday, crews will hold containment lines along Crest Trail on the northwest side of the fire. Dozer lines constructed on the northeast and southeast flanks held overnight, and firefighters will construct additional containment lines and burn out fuels as necessary. Similar activity is occurring on the south and north sides of the fire.
An unusual firefighting tactic is being used on the southwest corner of the. Snow making machines at Ski Apache Resort are being utilized to wet down fuels, slowing the spread of the fire.
Evacuations: All campgrounds west of Bonito Lake; subdivisions of Villa Madonna, Enchanted Forest, Nogal Canyon (Forest Road 400, campground and summer homes), Angus, Sierra Vista, Sontara (1,2 and 3), Rancho Ruidoso, Copper Canyon, and Loma Grande; Eagle Lakes Campground, Eagle Creek summer homes, Ski Run Road (State Highway 532) at mile marker 3, State Highway 48 to Capitan, and State Highway 37 to Highway 380 and Ski Apache.
Shelters: First Baptist Church on Country Club Road, Church of Christ on Sudderth Road in Ruidoso, and Trinity Baptist Church in Capitan. Pets and livestock may be taken to J&J Country Church in Ruidoso, or the fairgrounds in Capitan.
Information on smoke and your health can be found on the New Mexico Department of Health's website at: http://www.nmenv.state.nm.us/