Full containment of wildfire that torched Los Alamos expected Wednesday

Los Alamos residents search through rubble for mementos that may have survived the fires

May 23, 2000
Web posted at: 12:48 a.m. EDT (0448 GMT)

In this story: Blaze began as 'controlled burn' Nuclear laboratory reopens RELATED STORIES, SITES

From staff and wire reports

LOS ALAMOS, New Mexico -- The Los Alamos wildfire that forced the evacuation of about 20,000 people is expected to be fully contained Wednesday night, authorities said.

The blaze, called the Cerro Grande fire, was 95 percent contained Monday, with 671 firefighters continuing to fight it -- about half the size of the crew battling the fire at its peak a week and a half ago.

Nine helicopters, 11 fire engines, six bulldozers, and five water tenders were being used Monday in the battle against the flames.

The fire, the largest ever in New Mexico, has consumed 47,650 acres and 235 structures in Los Alamos.

Blaze began as 'controlled burn'

It began as a controlled burn aimed at getting rid of tinder-dry underbrush in the Bandelier National Monument. But the prescribed fire set by the National Park Service became a wildfire when winds picked up.

READ THE REPORT Preliminary report from the Interior Department     WEATHER FORECAST Los Alamos, New Mexico     GALLERY Fires blaze through Los Alamos, New Mexico     MESSAGE BOARD Nature's wrath

According to a draft report released Thursday by Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt, the National Park Service failed to follow guidelines in planning the burn and did not have enough contingency personnel available to control the blaze.

On Monday, isolated smoke plumes were reported within unburned islands inside constructed fire lines, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. No torching or fire spread was observed, although fire activity increased some with hotter afternoon temperatures.

Aggressive mop-up continued on the west side of the fire between Santa Clara Canyon and Cerro Grande, the fire center said.

Nuclear laboratory reopens

The Los Alamos National Laboratory, birthplace of the atomic bomb, welcomed back its managerial staff Monday for the first time since the fire became a threat 11 days ago.

Lee McAtee, the lab's deputy director for Environmental Safety and Health, said most of the damage occurred on the southwest side of the lab, which was closest to the blaze in the mountains. However, only about 5 percent of the property was affected.

McAtee said most of the needed repairs were for air filters that were damaged by smoke.

The 1,500 managers were some of the few employees allowed onto the 43-square mile laboratory. Once they decide the facilities are safe, they will begin calling for their employees to come back to work.

Nearly 12,000 people work at the lab, where the fire scorched nearly 8,000 acres of property.

It could be several weeks before the lab is completely reopened, according to lab spokesman David Lyons.

The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.

End may be in sight for Los Alamos blaze
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Mistakes by federal officials allowed 'controlled burn' to become raging Los Alamos wildfire, report says
May 18, 2000
Firefighters at New Mexico's worst-ever wildfire 'holding our breath'
May 16, 2000
12 fire-ravaged New Mexico counties are disaster areas
May 13, 2000
U.S. Forest Service temporarily bans 'prescribed fires'
May 12, 2000
Wildfire out of control in Los Alamos
May 11, 2000
Brush fire forces evacuations at Los Alamos lab
May 8, 2000

United States Environmental Protection Agency
  • National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS)
  • EPA's Decision on New Air Quality Standards
USDA Forest Service
ParkNet: Gateway to the National Park Service
  • Bandelier National Monument
  • Grand Canyon National Park
Los Alamos County
  • Fire Department
Welcome to New Mexico
  • Governor Johnson's Home Page
Los Alamos National Laboratory
  • Newsbulletin: Fire danger
American Red Cross
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

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