Courtesy Photo taken from the front porch of threatened property.
By Roger Lanse
At about 6:45 p.m., Wednesday, July 13, according to the New Mexico State Police, a single-car crash occurred on U.S. Highway 180 at MM 101, across from Jensen's Mobile Home Park. The vehicle, driven by a 21-year-old female, with a female passenger, was headed into Silver City. No names were available at press time. The NMSP spokesman stated that the two females were taken to Gila Regional Medical Center, where the driver was arrested for DWI. The vehicle was totally destroyed to the point of officers being unable to determine year and make.
The crash resulted in the two-door sedan catching fire and igniting the dry, fine fuels on the
north side of the highway, Grant County Fire Management Officer Randy Villa said. The burn quickly grew to about 90 acres and threatened two structures.
The New Mexico Department of Transportation ordered the highway closed at the crash site at about 8 p.m. and reopened it around midnight.
Villa stated that several agencies were involved in supplying personnel and resources to quench the Mangas Fire, including volunteer fire departments from Whiskey Creek, Fort Bayard, Cliff-Gila, Tyrone, and Pinos Altos; the U. S. Forest Service, which also provided air support, and the Silver City Fire Department. There were no reported injuries related to fire suppression.
As of noon on July 14, Villa indicated the fire had been contained and partially controlled. GǣWeG