2 homes burned by fire near Portales

ALBUQUERQUE — Authorities said a grass fire in Eastern New Mexico was contained Wednesday evening after charring an estimated 1,000 acres and burning four structures near Portales including two homes.

They said the fire broke out around 1 p.m. Wednesday and its cause wasn’t known.

Portales Fire Department crews battled flames and wind gusts up to 50 mph before getting the blaze under control around 6 p.m.

People near Portales were evacuated from their homes for several hours as a precaution.

Additional crews from Roosevelt County, Clovis, Texico, Melrose, Cannon Air Force Base and Chaves County helped fight the wind-whipped fire.

Forecasters with the National Weather Service reported top gusts in the area of 75 mph, saying smoke from the fire made for hazy conditions as far away as Amarillo, Texas.

Weather forecasters’ warnings of winds that were dangerous

for travel blanketed most of New Mexico on Wednesday, and Albuquerque officials issued a health alert because of blowing dust and said people with respiratory conditions should limit outdoor activity.

In Southern New Mexico, the White Sands Missile Range was closed because of high winds, with only essential personnel told to report to work.