Wildfire Damages Historic Fort Stanton in New Mexico
A fast-moving wildfire swept through the historic Fort Stanton site in southern New Mexico on Monday, burning more than half a square mile (1.4 square kms) of land and prompting evacuations.
Fire Impact and Damage
The blaze damaged three structures at the Fort Stanton historic site, a civil war-era landmark, and spread across surrounding federal conservation lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).
Response Efforts
Ground crews, helicopters, and air tankers worked together to contain the fire, which remained uncontained as of Monday. Firefighters focused on clearing vegetation lines to the north and dropping water on smoldering hotspots from the air, said Laura Rabon, spokesperson for the multi-agency response team.
Evacuations and Closures
A nearby horse ranch was evacuated, and a family of four along with their horses were moved to safety. Highway 220 near Fort Stanton was closed, and three nearby campgrounds were evacuated and remain closed.
Regional Concerns
The fire has sparked concern in a region still recovering from devastating wildfires last year that destroyed hundreds of homes and businesses in nearby Ruidoso, located about 15 miles (24 kilometers) away. Those fires were followed by severe flooding and erosion.
