By Marty Mayfield
KRTN Multi-Media
The call came into Raton Central Dispatch at 11:48 a.m. that there was a small fire on Highway 72 about nine miles east of Raton across from the Berry residence on the south side of the highway.
Very quick response by Raton Fire and Colfax Rapid Response kept the small grass fire from spreading to more than about a quarter acre. Fire Chief Anthony Burk attributes the green grass and lack of a lot of dry grass from allowing the fire to spread more quickly. Winds in Yankee Canyon were light but erratic which was the one thing that moved the fire along the highway.
Colfax County Fire Marshall Nick Sandoval attributed the fire to either a cigarette butt or a chain drag that sent sparks into the dry grass. Sandoval notes that there is a fire ban in Colfax County and that even a small ignition source such as a cigarette butt can ignite a fire. Fire fighters ask that if you smoke make sure to fully extinguish the cigarette and stow it away until it can be safely disposed of.
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