A wildfire in the San Mateo Mountains of west-central New Mexico has grown to 19 square miles.
Officials say the lightning-caused fire that started May 21 around 25 miles southwest of Magdalena on the Cibola National Forest and National Grasslands is 20 percent contained and that its size will increase daily as ignition operations continue.
Spokeswoman Cynthia Wolfe of the Magdalena Ranger District says a new incident commander has taken over in a switch that she called routine for long-burning fires.
Surrounding communities are experiencing drifting smoke and haze in the afternoon and evenings, and the New Mexico Air Quality Bureau has placed a smoke monitor in the area.
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