Facebook Twitter Email
der=0 cellpadding=3 cellspacing=0 width=100%> Pueblo affected by fire
MAY 11, 2000

A fire burning in Garcia Canyon near Santa Clara Pueblo has led area officials to call for a voluntary evacuation.

Late Wednesday night, some residents of the Pueblo, 17 miles northeast of Los Alamos, were asked to evacuate along with residents on the west side of Española, 25 miles north of Los Alamos. At least 3,000 are affected by the move.

A week old fire intended to clear excess underbrush and deadwood in a historic Pueblo monument has already forced the evacuation of 11,000 residents of Los Alamos earlier Wednesday. The nearby community of White Rock has also been evacuated.

It is not known if the two fires are related.

Evacuees from Santa Clara and Española are being sent to the Española Valley High School, the Ohkay Casino at nearby San Juan Pueblo, and area churches.

The Cities of Gold casino at Pojoaque Pueblo is also being used for evacuation efforts for those in Los Alamos. Hotels in the area and in Santa Fe, the state's capital, are offering discount rates for evacuees.

On Wednesday, President Clinton declared New Mexico a major disaster area.

More stories on the fire can be found at The Albuquerque Journal and the Santa Fe New Mexican.