Large parts of the town burned in 1997 when a ‘controlled burn’ got out of control.
You are correct it was 2000 not 1997.
You may be thinking of the Dome fire in 1996 that was south of the community. It was the Cerro Grande fire in 2000 that started with a controlled burn and went through the town. Pictures of that conflagration are still in my mind. CNN and the other networks set up satellite trucks at the entrance to the community and broadcast for several days from there.
“Large parts of the town burned in 1997 when a ‘controlled burn’ got out of control.”
My Uncle lost his home then. He’s not answering his phone right now.
Is the US Forest Service guy that ordered the “controlled” burn on the day of the year with the highest recorded wind velocity back from prison? I thought the USFS promoted the guy for burning up 2/3 of New Mexico in 1997? Or, did he train a replacement arsonist?