Wildfire prompts evacuations in Jemez Mountains

our other big story of the night--- the latest on the fire near jemez springs forcing some evacuations. that fire has grown since we last reported on it at 6-30. gadi schwartz is live in our northern bureau with the latest. i just got a briefing with the latest numbers from this fire - and it is growing fast- its now about 700 to 800 acres. it's doubled in size since 6- o'clock this evening. earlier today crews were able to battle the fire with some heavy aircraft. we saw at least 1 chopper and 3 air tankers making run after run over the fire burning next to fenton lake. evacuations have been ordered for the 7 springs community and the area around fenton lake. the fire has not burned any structures. crews will be fighting through the night to try and get some containment. people evacuated are hoping the fire stays away from cabins near fenton lake. "there are cabins in there hopefully they haven't gotten any but its still hitting new stuff it keeps coming up black." fire officials say they think an an abandoned camp fire may be to blame... over the memorial day weekend rangers came acros around 7 campfires that weren't properly put out after campers left. again the communities of fenton lake and 7 springs have been evacuated- so far around 70 people... fenton lake state park is temporarily closed. an emergency shelter has been set up at the jemez valley schools campus. right now incident commanders are putting together contingency plans for other communities nearby. keep it here for any other information ... we will follow the developments on this fire all night.

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[mvcordova]

@thatswhattheyis i know thanks alot me and my family went camping got there slept in the camper we wake up to go to this ranch and they had the roads blocked with smoke rite in front of us so we go back to the camp and the rangers started evacuating us it SUCKED!

[thatswhattheyis]

Thanks fire starting guys. I was visiting from IL and had to help my aunt and uncle rack pine needles away from their cabin in La Cueva. I did get to see the snorkel copter at Fenton Lake though. That was kind of cool.

[ken50100]

for the last 2 days

i wake up in the morning because i run at jemez pueblo and when i do i have to inhale the smoke it's crazy