Wildfire in Roosevelt County, New Mexico

The Range Fire was reported in a remote area of northwestern Roosevelt County with its cause unknown, burning west-southwest of Melrose. It burned a reported 2,817 acres according to the WatchDuty webpage with no reported damage.

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.