Albuquerque-"Three in custody. Charges to follow!"

[NJFFSA16]

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) - Three people have been arrested in
connection with at least one of the wildfires that forced
evacuations and prompted massive firefighting efforts as they
burned along the Rio Grande in Albuquerque this week.
"Three individuals are in custody," Mayor Martin Chavez
announced late Thursday night. "Charges to follow."
Chavez said investigators feel confident they've got "at least
one of the fires resolved in that regard." Investigators have not
linked the fires, which burned about a mile apart, but have not
ruled out a connection, he said.
Chavez said earlier that investigators were looking for two
juveniles who might have set off fireworks that sparked the first
fire, and for an adult who may have been responsible for the second
blaze.
In Arizona, investigators said Thursday night that a wildfire
that devastated a mountaintop community near Tuscon was likely
human-caused.
Albuquerque residents returned to their homes along the Rio
Grande on Thursday as firefighters tried to stamp out the remnants
of a smoldering blaze that transformed a riverside forest into a
patchwork of black and gray.
The suspected arson fire began Wednesday night and scorched
about 165 acres. About 200 people were forced to abandon their
homes and spent the night in hotels or the homes of friends and
relatives.
Marlene Roberts fled her home with her husband, David, after he
placed garden sprinklers on the roof.
"We could see these huge flames, and then you'd see just huge
fireballs and these loud explosions. It was so eerie, both
fascinating and terrifying at the same time," she said.
About 200 firefighters were on the scene Thursday as two
National Guard helicopters dumped massive buckets of water on
remnants of the blaze. Crews also quelled a flare-up during the
afternoon.
The fire was the second in the Rio Grande area in as many days.
The first, just to the south of the second, burned about 350 acres
after it was started Tuesday. It was 75 percent contained Thursday,
fire officials said.
Gov. Bill Richardson on Thursday ordered a 19-mile stretch of
the heavily wooded Rio Grande region closed through July 4.
The forested area - popular with bicyclists, joggers, walkers,
birders and nature lovers - is laced with trails and features a
paved path for cyclists and inline skaters.
The New Mexico National Guard deployed 120 soldiers and airmen
to help ensure the safety of the public, said Brig. Gen. Kenny
Montoya, the Guard's commanding officer.
Meanwhile, firefighters outside Tucson, Ariz., got help from the
weather for a second day Thursday as they made progress on
containing a wildfire that devastated a mountaintop community.
Calmer wind and higher humidity made it easier on crews building
and strengthening firebreaks around the blaze, which burned about
345 buildings in and around Summerhaven on Mount Lemmon.
The fire began June 17 on the 9,157-foot peak northeast of
Tucson. Driven by wind, flames roared through Summerhaven on the
southern side of the mountain on June 19 and continued burning
across the top of Mount Lemmon and down the north side.
The blaze has charred more than 30,000 acres, much of it pine
forest, but is now 50 percent contained.
Investigators said late Thursday they believe the fire was
human-caused because they had ruled out the possibility that
lightning or other natural factors sparked it.
"We have people we're interested in talking to," said David
Conto, a fire investigator for the Pima County Sheriff's
Department. "I wouldn't classify them as suspects yet."
The blaze was believed to have started near a trail southwest of
Summerhaven.
---
On the Net:
National Interagency Fire Center: http://www.nifc.gov

[intraining]

i know this is from last week, but now that i am somewhat involved i figured i would reply to this.... the three kids that started the FIRST bosque fire are in court this week to see what charges will be brought against them, the worst part is that we had a fire the very next day that was almost as bad as the first!!! according to new evidence they think it was a homeless man that started this one by accident. on another side note, i guess some of the local kids think the whole thing is funny.... while i was at the station yesterday we had a call because some kids have been throwing fireworks in the same area and we had to go put out a medium sized brush fire that they started there have been about five or six small fires started since the large bosque one by a bunch of kids who think the whole thing is a big joke.

[NJFFSA16]

Meanwhile, in New Mexico, three teenage boys accused of setting a fire last week in the heart of Albuquerque pleaded innocent Tuesday to arson charges. Authorities say that fire, which burned several hundred acres, was started by a firecracker tossed into a pile of the cottony seed fibers from cottonwood trees.

I'll betcha they're not laughing in front of the judge. I doubt they can make the arson charge stick....but perhaps these three will get the message.

[intraining]

Originally posted by NJFFSA16


I'll betcha they're not laughing in front of the judge. I doubt they can make the arson charge stick....but perhaps these three will get the message.

i think these three will, but the problem is there have been a bunch of smaller fires set by other kids because of this and because they think it is a big joke..... i don't understand kids much these days, granted i am only 23, but when i was between the ages of 9-16, the last thing on my mind was playing with or starting a fire , i don't really think kids today understand just how dangerous and damaging fires can be....