Large bosque fire going in Albuquerque

Author-published | June 24, 2003 | Muleteam1

[Muleteam1]

A very large fire is now burning in the river bosque in Northwest Albuquerque. It was discovered about 3:45 pm this afternon and fire crews are now on the scene. The fire is moving north from the area of I-40 and Coors. Callers to KKOB (770 AM radio) have reported structures are on fire and a large number of customers lost electrical power for a period. The Governor is now on his way back from Mexico City where he just met with Mexican President Fox. State resources are standing by and U.S. Forest Service has dispatched a helicopter.

Muleteam1

[Muleteam1]

A house is now burning.

[OldFriend]

And a bosque is?????????

[LibKill]

A RIVER is on fire?!!!

I think this happened back in the '60s in Ohio.

[Lady Jag]

bosque, NM
Zip code(s): 87006?

[Muleteam1]

A house is now burning.

[ican'tbelieveit]

The bosque is the wooded area along the banks of the Rio Grande thru Albuquerque. It gets very dry and lots of undergrowth, several fires along the river there every year.

[Amelia]

And a bosque is?????????

It's Spanish for a wooded area I believe.

[07055]

A bosque is the forest of trees surrounding a river in a dry area like New Mexico.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

There are some good eating places north of there as I recall!

[ican'tbelieveit]

http://www.kob.com/index.cfm?viewer=storyviewer&id=2360&cat=HOME

200 evacuated, structures burned in Albuquerque bosque fires

Chopper 4 shows smoke plumes rising over Albuquerque Tuesday afternoon.


Last Update: 06/24/2003 5:52:33 PM
By: Kurt Christopher
Video

The Rio Grande bosque exploded in flames Tuesday afternoon, burning structures and forcing the evacuation of 200 homes in Albuquerque.

The fire was first reported shortly after 3 p.m. near Interstate 40 and quickly grew to over 100 acres in the dry brush on both sides of the river.

Authorities evacuated homes on the west side of the river starting around 4 p.m. Evacuees were told to gather at the Home Depot at I-40 and Coors Boulevard NW.

About 40 students at St. Pius High School were also evacuated to St. Joseph’s on the Rio Grande Parish, and employees and visitors to the Rio Grande Nature Center were under a voluntary evacuation.

At least one home was destroyed as of 5:45 p.m. The home appeared to have been under construction. Other outbuildings, including one gazebo, had also burned.

Heavy smoke forced state police to close I-40 in both directions due to smoke. There was also concern after the fire burned beneath the traffic bridge. The interstate was reopened shortly after 5 p.m.

The fire is also blamed for a power outage to about 16,000 PNM customers. PNM spokesman Frederick Bermudez says the fire and smoke tripped a transmission line in the area, causing the outage.

Albuquerque officials issued a health alert as a result of the heavy smoke lingering in the air. Residents with respiratory problems were encouraged to remain indoors.

Stay with Eyewitness News 4 and KOBTV.com for more details as they become available.

[AlGone2001]

Let's take this time to thank the envirionmentalists for making this the fire season we all thought it could be.

[Muleteam1]

Bosque is the spanish word for forest. Out here only the areas along the river have significant vegetation.

Muleteam1

[Muleteam1]

There are some good eating places north of there as I recall!

Yes, and I'm sorry to say, my home is only a few miles north of the fire. I can hear the truck engines and sirens.

Muleteam1

[ican'tbelieveit]

Oh my. I used to live just off of I40 & Coors. These things usually don't hit homes. Hopefully it will be put out very soon. I don't suppose there has been any lightening to account for how it started?

[Muleteam1]

Thanks. We are watching Channel 4 television right now. This appears to be the worst bosque fire in some years.

Muleteam1

[chance33_98]

Stay Safe and our prayers are with you. I love NM, one of my two favorite states to spend time in - it will rebound from this, and the great mexican food will flow from the great stops along the 40 (ala route 66 cafe in Santa Rosa, home of James 'Bozo' cordova).

[Bohemund]

I hope no Buslims are injured.

[Muleteam1]

Oh yes. As a retired USFWS biologist, I could tell you some tales to make your hair curl.

Muleteam1

[greyfoxx39]

I live in Albuquerque now, in the heights, away from the river, but this is horrible. I was evacuated for 10 days just one year ago from Show Low AZ during the Rodeo-Chediski fire...one of the main reasons for leaving AZ was because of that fire. The mayor's home is now threatened, and the video is really scary. Pray this is controlled soon!