Wildfire in Quay County, New Mexico

The lighting caused Line Fire began near Nara Visa in far northern Quay County May 14th. The fire made wind-driven runs to the north that day, crossing the state line into TX and damaging some power lines. The NM portion of the fire was determined to be 20,030 acres, out of a total size of 30,144 acres that includes the TX portion of the burned area. Damage amount is estimated based on the report of power lines being damaged.

Modest moisture across eastern NM, coupled with increased dry southwesterly flow May 14th to produce abundant dry lightning strikes across east-central and northeastern NM. The critical fire weather conditions allowed these fires to rapidly spread and make wind-driven runs. The dry lightning starts included the Mimms and Line, and likely the Black Mesa Trail wildfires. The Black Mesa Trail wildfire was reported have quickly moved across the state line into OK before reaching a notable size in NM. A fourth wildfire called the Range fire was reported in Roosevelt County with an unknown cause. A fifth wildfire in Lincoln County was an unfortunate start from a downed airplane in the northern slopes of the Capitan Mountains north of Ruidoso, named the Seven Cabins Wildfire.