CHAVES COUNTY – High winds have led to a fire in Chaves County in the Midway area between Darby and Honolulu streets. According to Chaves County Emergency Manager Karen Sanders, as of 4 p.m. fire crews were still on the scene. No evacuations have been ordered.
EDDY COUNTY – Volunteer fire crews from Eddy County have contained a brush fire that destroyed two structures today around 1 p.m. The fire began in the area around Happy Valley near Carlsbad, that according to the Eddy County Emergency Manager.
LEA COUNTY – Lea County Emergency Manager, Lorenzo Velasquez, reports fire crews from Lea County have put out three fires in the area, however, the fires have been small in nature no bigger than the size of an average back yard.
Crews responded and put the blazes out quickly. One of the fires was behind the W105/B107 studios in Lovington.
Velasquez reports that 61 mile per hour winds were recorded in Tatum and 44 mph winds recorded in the Hobbs area around 3 p.m. today
ROOSEVELT COUNTY – A grass fire west of Portales has forced the evacuation of residents living in that vicinity. According to our partners at KOB TV. Residents living north of U.S. 70 on NM 236 and west of Roosevelt Road W have been encouraged to leave.
The First Baptist Church and the city’s Memorial Building are providing shelters for those who have been displaced by the fire. Currently Roosevelt County is under a high wind alert.
By Tom A. Ruiz