Crews in New Mexico, Arizona scramble to corral wildfires

By CEDAR ATTANASIO and SUSAN MONTOYA BRYAN
Associated Press

LAS VEGAS, N.M. (AP) — Firefighters in New Mexico’s Rocky Mountain foothills are excavating new firebreaks and clearing brush to keep a massive wildfire from destroying more homes and pine forests. Nearly 300 structures including homes, commercial buildings and barns have already been destroyed. Officials said Monday that the tally will increase as more of the damage is surveyed. More residents were told to evacuate the region Sunday night as the fire jumped a highway and moved through rugged territory. Another New Mexico wildfire in mountains near a key nuclear research facility prompted preparations for evacuations. Several dozen southern Arizona residents were forced to evacuate because of another wildfire.