The call went out a little before noon on Wednesday, Feb. 17 on a grass fire burning just south east of the Hoxie Junction where Hiway 64 joins state road 445 just south of the Raton Crews Field Airport. By the time fire crews from Raton Fire, Colfax County District 8, Cimarron, Philmont and Maxwell finished mopping up, the “Bull Fire” had scorched 70 plus acres. Battling gusty winds, record high temperatures and the very dry conditions, firefighters were driving the perimeter at about 4:30 making sure there were not more hotspots.
KRTN in Raton reached 69 degrees on Wednesday, which set the all-time record high for the date. Although the winds were gusty, the really strong winds are not forecast to hit our area till late tonight and tomorrow. The National Weather Service says winds could kick in upwards of 50 miles an hour on Thursday and even higher in the mountains. The last measurable precipitation at KRTN was on Feb. 5.
