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Early Wildfires Fueled By Dry Grasses Spread In New Mexico

Wildfire season has started early in New Mexico.

New Mexico State Forestry Wildfire Prevention Coordinator Micaela Hester told The Albuquerque Journal that the agency is a lot busier now than it was at this time last year.

She says 45,000 acres have burned so far this year, a big jump from 7,600 acres by the same time last year.

According to Hester, officials are anticipating an active fire season thanks to an abundance of dry grass.

Fire crews last week battled one blaze near Ruidoso and others in Catron and Otero counties. Meanwhile, a fire that started in Socorro County on March 20 burned 300 acres over four days and the Lone Tree Fire burned 19 acres on March 21.

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Information from: Albuquerque Journal.

Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.