New Mexico governor Susana Martinez has called in the National Guard in an effort to deal with the Wallow fire, which crossed state borders late last night.
Ms. Martinez sent National Guard troops to southwestern New Mexico to help emergency personnel prepare for the fire, The Associated Press reported. The governor said 145 National Guardsman will operate out of Reserve to assist with local evacuations if necessary.
The move comes as a number of states have sent firefighters to help deal with the blaze. The Wallow fire has engulfed nearly 500,000 acres in just under a week. The fire is more than 600 square miles – larger than the area of Phoenix – and has burned 11 buildings.
Ms. Martinez’s also ordered the New Mexico Tourism Department to provide places of shelter in hotels in the state, which are offering discounted rates to people with respiratory problems because of smoke from the Wallow fire.
