Wildfire in West Central Highlands, New Mexico

The Balsam Wildfire was discovered during a very dry and critical fire weather event on the evening of April 27th, in Grants, NM. Fire crews were able to keep the fire to just 3 to 5 acres, but it unfortunately burned through a residential area. The Grants Fire Chief reported 7 structures were impacted with 2 firemen injured. Damage is an estimate.

The combination of very dry antecedent ground conditions and very dry and strong southwesterly flow ahead of a closed upper low over the Great Basin region brought widespread high wind gusts and blowing dust across mainly central and eastern NM during the afternoon and early evening of April 27th. Peak wind gusts of 58 to 80 mph were observed across the area. Blowing dust causing near zero visibility resulted in the closure of the Roswell Relief Route, as well as the closure of NM Highway 2 at Hagerman, NM. The high winds and low humidity resulted in extreme critical fire weather conditions. Unfortunately two fires broke out, the Otero and Balsam Fires near Socorro and Grants, NM respectively. The Balsam Fire destroyed 6 structures and 8 outbuildings. Conditions improved during the evening as winds began to subside.