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NM WILDFIRES DESTROY 13 HOMES, 47 OTHER STRUCTURES

KRWG News – SILVER CITY, N.M. (KRWG) Authorities in New Mexico have begun escorting residents into their neighborhoods to survey damage left by a wildfire that raced across nearly 1,800 acres in a rugged area of the state.

State Forestry spokesman Dan Ware says Tuesday that the human-caused fire destroyed 13 homes, damaged up to 47 smaller outbuildings and forced about 100 people to temporarily leave the area. Residents who were initially asked to leave when the fire broke out Monday south of Silver City were allowed to return to their homes late Tuesday.

Officials say up to 100 structures within the burn area and another 100 structures within a quarter-mile of the fire perimeter are still considered threatened.

The fire is listed as 50 percent contained. Officials hope to have it fully contained by Wednesday evening.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. krwg