Nearly 300 Buildings Damaged Or Destroyed In New Mexico Wildfires

Crews are finally getting a better look at the area scorched by two massive wildfires northwest of Las Vegas, New Mexico. Officials say the fires damaged or destroyed more than 150 homes, and that number could get higher.

Along State Road 518, firefighters fought to slow the blaze, dropping water from the sky and working on the ground to contain the Hermits Peak and Calf Canyon fires after they combined, to keep them from jumping the highway this week.

Now, law enforcement and government agencies are out in the field, assessing the damage in a rugged area that stretches over San Miguel and Mora Counties.

‘As of this morning, we have assessed 1223 properties. Of those 1223, 277 buildings are visibly damaged or destroyed,’ says Joy Ansley, San Miguel County manager, ‘Of those, 166 residences, 108 outbuildings -- which includes garages, barns, other types of outbuildings -- and three commercial buildings.’

Most of this devastation is caused by the Calf Canyon Fire. Ansley says the Hermits Peak Fire burned down one semi-permanent residence and five outbuildings.