ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez and forestry officials have unveiled a new email notification system for alerting residents of potential dangers from wildfire.
State officials say prompt and accurate information can save lives and that the new system will bolster existing efforts to get information out quickly through social media sites.
The move comes six weeks after embers from a prescribed fire in Colorado sparked a blaze that killed three people, blackened 6 square miles and damaged or destroyed nearly two dozen homes.
In the case of the Lower North Fork fire southwest of Denver, county officials are revamping procedures following problems with an automated call system that was intended to send evacuation messages to residents.
New Mexico, Colorado and other western states are bracing for a busy fire season given the drought conditions that are spreading across the region.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.