Valencia County Fire Chief Matt Propp said the department, as well as all other fire agencies in Valencia County, Bernalillo County Fire Department and state forestry are responding to a large bosque fire north of the city of Rio Communities.
The fire started on the west side of the Rio Grande and has jumped to the east side.
Evacuation is in progress in the area of Blue Sky Road and Nighthawk Road, east of the Rio Grande, and Las Chapulinas, west of the river. If you live in that immediate area, the Valencia County Fire Department advises you to prepare for evacuation now. Evacuee’s should report to the Belen Recreation Center, 305 Eagle Lane. The Valencia County Sheriff’s Office is asking residents on south Gabaldon Road to voluntarily evacuate.
The fire is moving northeast at this time. N.M. 47 is closed in both directions from La Entrada south to River Road.
At this time, La Merced Elementary in Rio Communities east of the river is not at risk, but parents can pick up students. Belen Consolidated Schools Superintendent Lawrence Sanchez said any students who could not get home due to the highway closure would be taken to the Belen Recreation Center at Eagle Park.
The first two pictures in this post were taken from the west side of the river, while the third was taken from the east side near River Road and N.M. 47.
Original source can be found here.
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