Large fire burns near Hobbs (NM)

KRQE News 13, Albuquerque ^ | February 25, 2008 | KRQE News 13, Albuquerque

[CedarDave]

HOBBS, N.M. (KRQE) - Hobbs Fire Department officials say a large fire is burning near the town.

The fire broke out just before 2 p.m. today near the Country Club area.

Officials say precautionary evacuations have been called for, but didn't have any specifics.

The area has seen several fires today, but the others have since been put out.

[CedarDave]

Listening to scanner traffic. Fire actually broke out north of Arkansas Junction and moved east and then SE when the wind shifted. Jumped 62-180 in area of country club and airport and now is threatening to jump south bypass road. Tankers responding from as far away as Roswell. Emergency operations center activated. US Highway 62-180 closed. Evacuations in the SW side of town, including home of one of our employees who was allowed to go in to pickup kid, babysitter and dogs. Wind blowing 35-40 steady, gusts over 50 mph. Have had no rain this winter, very dry.

[CedarDave]

New Mexico PING!

[neodad]

That looks like it’s near the airport, too.

[Our man in washington]

Knowing Hobbs, that fire is probably nasty and brutish. Hope it’s also short.

[ChinaThreat]

I know Hobbs very well. There were always brush fires in summer from kids shooting fireworks off on the oil drilling service roads. Hope everyone comes out ok.

Hobbs makes me think of the smell of burning sour crude. Some people don’t like it, but it reminds me of childhood :-)

[CedarDave]

I think it jumped the highway both east and west of the airport. Every time it hits a fence line the stacked tumbleweeds catch fire and then are blown up and over to push it further SE.

[moondoggie]

Prayers from up north in Colorado!

Stay safe down there.

I got Red Flag warnings from the TX panhandle this morning, too.

We still have family there.

[crusty old prospector]

I lived and worked in Hobbs one summer. I remember partaking in the pastime of riding around in a pickup at night and shooting and running over jack rabbits on the oil field roads.

[rellimpank]

-—”giggle”—

[CedarDave]

The evacuation area now extends from south of Marland and west of Grimes. Children from schools in that area are being bussed to Hobbs High School.

[NormsRevenge]

Bottom pic at this link... smoke east of Hobbs?
Hobbs, NM - Looking East
http://www.basinbroadband.com/webcam/

[NormsRevenge]

several fires today,, a fire bug?

[nw_arizona_granny]

Ping.

[CedarDave]

Nothing to the east but dust. Looking east to the intersection of Lovington Highway and East Bender. If camera was pointed south, you’d see the smoke.

[CedarDave]

Only one today; it started five miles north on Highway 483 went east and then southeast. Could be set but more likely from a discarded cigarette or an arcing/broken powerline.

[NormsRevenge]

winds more likely and a down powerline.. I’d like to think folks would know better in a dry area to toss a cig but..

[CedarDave]

You can see the tower support wires blowing in the wind and the camera itself shaking.

[goodnesswins]

I just looked at weather where my Mom is this morning (Roswell) out of curiousity....and saw that they were about to have 50mph gusts....so I agree the wind is the likely problem.

[CedarDave]

An evacuated bassett hound and weiner dog just ended up in the office. Cuties...

[MediaMole]

I blame Calvin for the Hobbs fire.