Firefighters ‘mop-up hot spots’ after wildfire burns 60 acres near Elephant Butte

TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES, New Mexico — Evacuations were lifted as crews worked hard to knock down flames from a wildfire in Truth or Consequences near Elephant Butte.

The Mims Lake Fire, located on the south side of Mims Lake and burning on private land, was considered contained on Friday and no longer threatening buildings; none had been damaged.

"Firefighters will continue to mop-up hot spots and secure containment lines," Wendy Mason, a spokeswoman with the state of New Mexico's Forestry Division, which was coordinating the fire response, said Friday.

The fire grew to about 60 acres just a day prior, prompting some homes and businesses in the area to be evacuated.

NM 179 from milepost 0 to 2 and NM 51 from milepost 2 to 5 were also closed at one point as fire encroached on the roadways, but transportation officials said those roads had since re-opened.

The cause of the fire was under investigation and 50 personnel were utilized to fight the blaze, including crews from the Forestry Division, Elephant Butte, T or C, Sierra County and the Spaceport America Fire Department.