Amid red flag warning, small fires spark in Southern New Mexico

Firefighters have responded to three small wildland fires — known as the Outlaw, Gallinas and Carrizo fires — in Southern New Mexico, between Silver City and Truth or Consequences.

Sparked by lightning strikes early Saturday morning, the Carrizo Fire had burned about 20 acres of grass, brush and woodland on private land, while the Outlaw and Gallinas fires each measured 3 acres, according an update published Saturday via state and federal agencies’ fire reporting system.

The fires come amid very dry conditions throughout the state. The National Weather Service on Sunday issued a red flag warning — an alert indicating dry conditions and high winds could combine to create extreme burning conditions — throughout much of central and Southern New Mexico, including parts of Santa Fe County.

The agency also issued a wind advisory covering much of the northeastern corner of the state, predicting sustained winds of 25 to 35 mph and gusts of up to 50 mph.

“On a day like this, it’s so easy for a fire like that to just get started, especially in those drier portions of the state,” said Randall Hergert, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service’s Albuquerque office.

While it may not be news that New Mexico is dry, much of the state is especially dry right now, with relative humidity levels falling below 15% in many places, Hergert explained. That, combined with strong southwesterly winds, are “prime conditions” to spark new fires or spread existing fires, he said.

As of Saturday, several engines, aerial resources and firefighters — including the Silver City Hotshots and El Carrizo Hotshots — were involved in fighting the Outlaw, Gallinas and Carrizo fires, according to the interagency alert.

By Sunday afternoon, Hergert said the fires appeared to be responding well to those efforts, despite dry and windy conditions.

“So far, it seems like they’re actually behaving, which is a good sign,” he said.

In addition to increasing the potential spread of fires, Hergert added the high winds could result in dangerous driving conditions — particularly on the stretch of Interstate 25 from Las Vegas, N.M., to Raton — Sunday afternoon and evening for higher-profile vehicles like semitrucks and trailers.

The National Weather Service’s Albuquerque office is also keeping a close eye on the Greer Fire, which since May 13 has burned more than 18,000 acres just across the border in Arizona.

“Even though it’s in Arizona, we’ve seen some of its smoke come all the way over here to Albuquerque,” Hergert said.