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CNN Live Today

Strong Winds Push Several Fires Across More Than 12,000 Acres in New Mexico

Aired March 25, 2002 - 10:17   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: In the United States, strong winds over the weekend pushed several fires across more than 12,000 acres in New Mexico. One blaze charged into an upscale neighborhood and destroyed more two dozen homes.

CNN's Brian Cabell is in Ruidoso, New Mexico with the very latest on this one.

Brian, at last report, we heard that some people might be allowed to go back into their homes. Is that still the case?

BRIAN CABELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, that will happen later this morning here. We are at base camp of the Cocapelli (ph) fire. That's the one that destroyed all of those homes. The crews are out right now, most of them. But look behind me there, you can see the smoke at base of the mountains there. It's been there all night, all morning, but the flames are for the most part out at this particular fire. The good news this morning that we heard at the briefing, that is winds have died down considerably. Maybe five-mile per hour winds. They were up to 60 miles per hour on Saturday. As a result, containment now about 60 percent at this fire. They may even have it fully contained by the end of the day.

A total of 823 acres burned here, 28 homes, one barn. We've heard a reported estimate of $5 million damage at this one particular small fire. This is a small fire, but this is the one that has done the most damage. There are three other fires in South New Mexico, one of them the Hondo Valley Fire, 12,000 acres burned there. That by far the biggest one, but that is mostly brush land.

There are also two other fires, smaller fires on the Mescolera (ph) Indian reservation. Those again burning right now. But again, with the winds at this point, those likely may be contained later on today as well. So there is a hope that perhaps they'll be able to cut back crews. And then in an hour or so, they are going to be sending people back into this one fire, the Cocapelli fire, this upscale subdivision that you referred to. They will be able to go back. Most of the people will be happy, we're told, because their homes are still there, but 28 people have lost their homes -- Carol.

LIN: Wow, that is sad to hear.

All right, thank you very much. Brian Cabell, standing by there in New Mexico, keeping an eyes on those fires.

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