Weather Conditions Help Curb Spread Of NM Wildifire

MOUNTAINAIR, NM — Fire crews battling a blaze in the rugged Manzano Mountains south of Albuquerque got some help from Mother Nature in the form of snow.

The stormon Thursdayandearly Fridayhelped dampen the Ojo Peak Fire. More snow has been forecast for the weekend.

The blaze is now listed as 40 percent contained, said fire information officer Dana Howlett.

“It’s still an active fire, but crews are making progress,” Howlett said.

The weather has a down side as well, however. The weather makes fighting the fire more hazardous for crews and slows down the process of getting equipment where it needs to go, Howlett said.

The Ojo Peak Fire has burned 7,500 acres.