Firefighters battle US' largest wildfire on record

Los Angeles - Over 1 200 firefighters battling New Mexico's largest wildfire in history rappelled from helicopters on Saturday to extinguish blazes in rugged mountains and canyons, authorities said.

The Whitewater-Baldy Complex blaze has burned through 92 000 and is only 15% contained, although "substantial progress" has been made as firefighters race to extinguish the massive fire ahead of more hot and windy conditions, according to officials.

Thunderstorms and dry lightning forecast for southwestern New Mexico threatened to accelerate the disaster after the fire consumed vegetation such as timber, mixed conifer, Ponderosa pine, pinon pine, juniper and grass fuels in the Gila National Forest.

Lightning sparked the blaze on 16 May.

Thick smoke columns have forced people to stay inside, local media reported.

Specialised resources

"Because of the complexity of this fire, fire managers have brought in specialised resources. One of those resources includes heli-rappellers," the interagency New Mexico Fire Information website said in a posting.

"The 'rappellers' will rappel from a helicopter into remote locations and extinguish fires or provide reconnaissance information."

The heli-rappellers help put out the fire in rugged terrain lacking a good landing zone.

About 1 257 personnel are involved in the firefighting effort, along with 64 fire engines, 28 water tenders, seven dozers and 10 helicopters, according to New Mexico Fire Information.

The blaze has already surpassed New Mexico's last record-breaking fire, the Las Conchas wildfire, which burned through over 63 130 hectares and threatened the Los Alamos National Laboratory known for its work on nuclear weapons.

Comments