Ute Park fire update: Where is New Mexico fire now? Where has it spread?

HUNDREDS of people have been evacuated as a huge blaze has been engulfing Ute Park in New Mexico since the weekend. But where is the New Mexico fire now and where has it spread?

Residents evacuate after wildfire TORCHES Ute Park

The blaze at Ute Park, New Mexico has now spread across 36,660 acres and is currently at 25 percent containment, according to Inciweb.

About 250 miles southeast of the huge blaze, some 1,110 residents of Cimarron were allowed back into their homes today after showers helped quell the flames.
Cimarron, a frontier-style town, lies about 140 miles northeast of Albuquerque, the state's largest city. Ute Park is about 10 miles (16 km) west of Cimarron.
The cause of the fire is unknown and under investigation. No injuries or property losses were reported.

Where is New Mexico fire now? Where has it spread?

The Ute ParkFire has burned 36,000 acres (14,569 hectares) of drought-parched grassland and timber since the wildfire broke out on Thursday.

The small nearby community of Ute Park, near the Colorado border, remained under a mandatory evacuation on Monday, said Judith Dyess, spokeswoman for the multi-agency Southwest Incident Management Team managing the blaze.

"Critical fire weather and smoky conditions are expected to return in the coming days as a high pressure system is building from the south," fire officials said in an alert regarding the New Mexico fire.

Ute Park fire update: Where is New Mexico fire now?

Where has the Ute Park fire spread? (Image: REUTERS)

The nearby Santa Fe National Forest was closed to the public indefinitely on Friday in a rare measure prompted by the heightened fire risk from prolonged drought.

Around 14 structures have been destroyed at the Philmont Scout Ranch, as it spread to Highway 64, in Ute Park. 

Accuweather has issued warning about wind blowing smoke over other parts of northeastern New Mexico and neighboring Colorado, leading to poor air quality. 

Lighter winds at night may help confine the smoke and hazardous breathing conditions closer to the blaze.

Ute Park fire update: Where is New Mexico fire now?

A map showing the areas where the fire has spread (Image: NFSA)

Ute Park fire update: Where is New Mexico fire now?

The sky lit up at night as the fire continues to burn (Image: REUTERS )

Rain helped to prevent the fire from spreading on Sunday and aided containment efforts, which had previously been unsuccessful, on the fire's southern and eastern flanks. 

There is currently sunshine and low humidity in the area, which will allow the vegetation to dry out quickly.

"Drier weather that returned Monday will hold through at least Wednesday," according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Kristina Pydynowski. "Breezes from the southwest are expected each afternoon of Tuesday and Wednesday."

There are also six large wildfires burning across New Mexico and southwestern Colorado, according to the National Interagency Fire Center.

Around 1,500 people have been evacuated north of Durango, Colorado, due to the blaze, which started on Friday morning, burning over 2,400 acres since Monday evening, Inciweb reported. 

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