"More than 1,000 firefighters backed by bulldozers and aircraft battled the largest active wildfire in the US on Saturday after strong winds pushed it across some containment lines and closer to a town in northern New Mexico.

Preliminary overnight mapping imagery indicated that the fire that has burned at least 166 homes grew in size from 103 square miles on Friday to 152 square miles by early Saturday, officials said.

Ash carried seven miles through the air fell on Las Vegas, population about 13,000, and firefighters were trying to prevent the blaze from getting closer, said Mike Johnson, a spokesperson for the fire management team."

Paul Davenport reports for the Associated Press May 1, 2022. [2]

SEE ALSO:

"Wildfires Keep Las Vegas, N.M., Motels, Restaurants Busy" (Santa Fe New Mexican) [3]

"PBS Special Looks At The Why And How Of New Mexico’S Wildfires" (Albuquerque Journal) [4]