Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Abandoned structures, utility poles burned in Roosevelt County.
MILNESAND — A fire that raged through Lea County before spreading to Roosevelt and Cochran counties on Thursday evening was contained as of Friday afternoon, according to Milnesand Fire Chief John Mohon.
The fire, which Mohon said burned at least 60,000 acres, could flare back up, but is currently “under control.”
“We’re just kind of looking for hot spots at the moment, but I think most of it is out right now. It probably went another 100 acres from (Thursday) night, probably 100 to 200 acres,” he said.
Mohon said Roosevelt County residents who were forced from their homes have since returned. He added that three abandoned structures were destroyed.
Up to 70 electricity poles were burned in the fire, but the Roosevelt County Electric Cooperative “is working on it diligently as we speak,” Mohon said.
Portales Fire Chief Gary Nuckols reported that as of Friday afternoon, the city had not seen any large-scale fires.
“We had a small grass fire at a median on Highway 70 (on Friday) that they got knocked down and controlled very quickly. Other than that, we have been very lucky and dodged a bullet here so far,” he said.
