Copyright 2006 Albuquerque Journal
By MIGUEL NAVROT
Albuquerque Journal (New Mexico)
An 18-acre forest fire broke out southeast of Cuba on Monday, forcing the evacuation of the 1,200-acre Chaparral Girl Scout Camp.
Five fire engines, three air tankers, two helicopters and dozens of firefighters responded to the Chaparral Fire, which was burning about 13 miles from the northern New Mexico town of Cuba.
As a precaution, about 50 people including Girl Scouts were bused to the Eichwald Center in Cuba, according to the Forest Service.
The fire, burning east of Smokey Bear Hill in the Santa Fe National Forest, posed no imminent danger, officials said.
“Things are looking good right now,” Forest Service spokesman Lawrence Lujan said in a telephone interview Monday night.
The evening forecast looked favorable for firefighters, Lujan said. Winds were expected at 8 mph, and humidity was to increase as the temperatures dropped.
The Forest Service sent three Hotshot crews to the fire. Lujan said the sizable force was necessary given the drought conditions afflicting the area.
“We’ve been hitting them hard and keeping them small,” Lujan said of the blaze.
The fire came on the same day Santa Fe National Forest officials decided against tougher fire restrictions around the area.
Officials had commended the public for being mindful of fire dangers and ongoing restrictions.
Currently campfires and smoking are prohibited under the so-called Stage II restrictions. Affected areas include Abiquiu, Coyote, Cuba, Española, Jemez, Las Vegas, Los Alamos, Mora and Santa Fe.
As of Sunday, eight humancaused fires have burned 18 acres on the forest this year.
“Considering how hot, dry and windy the spring has been, these are unusually promising statistics,” said Claudia Standish, a fire prevention specialist. “It tells us that people are taking their fire prevention responsibilities very seriously.”