Over 1,000 firefighters backed by bulldozers and aircraft battled the largest active wildfire in the United States on Saturday after strong winds pushed it across some containment lines and closer to a small city in northern New Mexico.
Mapping imagery indicated the fire that has burned at least 166 homes grew in size from 103 square miles Friday to 152 square miles by early Saturday, officials said. The fire was described as 30 percent contained during a briefing Saturday evening.
Ash carried 7 miles through the air fell on Las Vegas, population about 13,000, and firefighters were trying to prevent the blaze from getting closer, said Mike Johnson, a spokesperson with the fire management team.
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