Small fire near ski area put out fast

A small fire started in the Sandias near the ski area on April 30, but was immediately contained at a very small size, according to the Forest Service.

It was started by an unattended campfire, said Forest Service spokesperson Brad Tausan. There are currently no prohibitions in place against building a campfire because the Sandias are currently in “Moderate” fire conditions. Campfires are subject to restrictions, including that they must be in developed camping areas. “The fire was in a really uncommon area” Tausan said. “The fire was a campfire ring that escaped.”

Because of the size of the fire and its location, Tausan said they were able to find it by using their senses. “If you can't see it, you can smell it,” he said.

Tausan said the fire did not grow larger than 1/10 of an acre and the Forest Service and Bernalillo County Fire Department responded with three engines, standard hand tools and backpack pumps. The fire was fully extinguished quickly by emergency responders on foot with water in packs.

Earlier in the week there was also a small fire in Moriarty off Lexco Road. Torrance County Fire Chief Don Dirks said the fire was caused by a utility trailer with a bad wheel bearing. He said the fire was extinguished with in five minutes by county volunteer firefighters.