By KRWG News
Ruidoso – Forecasts of high winds Wednesday afternoon are raising concerns about a fire that has burned more than 16 square miles around the southern New Mexico resort area of Ruidoso Downs.
State Forestry spokesman Dan Ware says temperatures also are expected to increase during the afternoon.
Ware says crews on the ground will get help Wednesday morning from aircraft dropping fire-retardant slurry, but afternoon winds could be an issue for the planes.
The fire broke out Sunday and is now 35 percent contained.
Another fire burning in central New Mexico since Saturday is listed as 70 percent contained.
Ware says there's very little fire activity on that 2,700-acre blaze near the Sevilleta Wildlife Refuge.
Both fires forced evacuations over the weekend. Those evacuations have been lifted.
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.