Grass Fire Threatening Lovington, NM

Lea County Sheriff and Fire ^ | April 29, 2011 | Scanner

[CedarDave]

Evacuations underway in north Lovington New Mexico as a large uncontrolled grass fire approaches the semi-rural area on the north side of town. Listen to fire, sheriff and rescue personal evacuate residents and defend residences.

Google Earth Location: 32.966823° -103.352115°

[CedarDave]

Audio Link:

http://www.radioreference.com/apps/audio/?ctid=1805

[CedarDave]

NM list PING! Click on the flag to go to the Free Republic New Mexico message page.

(The NM list is available on my FR homepage for anyone to use. Let me know if you wish to be added or removed from the list. )

[bgill]

Hope they can push it away from homes and that everyone and their animals get out.

[unkus]

What are the winds like?

[CedarDave]

Before sunset, from the WSW 30-40 MPH with higher gusts. Now after the sunset the wind has died down allowing them to keep it from jumping roads.

Audio says they have stopped forward progress and are putting out hot spots (looks like candles says one fire officer). One problem, the oil companies use heavy duty poly-pipe flowlines that are on the ground (look like black water hoses but 2”-3” thick). These are on fire and when melted, the flowing oil catches fire too.

[CedarDave]

Hope they can push it away from homes and that everyone and their animals get out.

They are lucky it started in the late p.m. when peak winds were already decreasing. Earlier there were gust nearing 50 mph, sunny skies with the temp about 90 and no moisture since late last summer.

[unkus]

These are on fire and when melted, the flowing oil catches fire too.

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The envirowackos will “not let that crisis go to waste” if they catch wind of it.

[razorback-bert]

I am down south of Loving, right on the Texas line, haven’t seen any smoke, but passed lots of burned spots. Did have to wait in traffic in Loving, cattle got out and were taking a stroll through town.