Wildfire near Carlsbad Caverns up to 5,000 acres
A wildfire burning on the western border of Carlsbad Caverns National Park has grown to 5,000 acres.
Fire officials said Sunday that the blaze was sparked Friday by lightning in the Lincoln National Forest around the New Mexico-Texas state line.
A helicopter battling the declining Little Bear Fire was diverted Saturday to the new fire, which is at 15 percent containment.
The Horse Canyon Fire is near the area burned in the Last Chance Fire in spring in 2011.
Officials said the fire is about five miles southeast of Queen and about a mile from the Carlsbad Caverns National Park boundary.
