By KRWG News
Hondo, NM – Authorities are reporting progress in the fight against the Donaldson fire and have ended a mandatory evacuation order for some residents.
Fire officials said Friday evening that the order for the Alamo Canyon area along Alamo Canyon Road has been changed to a voluntary evacuation.
Though the blaze grew Friday to 141 square miles, or 90,000 acres, its containment increased to 30 percent.
Firefighters say they were able to expand containment by firming up fire lines around the eastern perimeter of the blaze.
The fire is burning in steep, rocky terrain on private and Mescalero Apache Tribal lands. Part of the fire is burning on a ranch owned by newsman Sam Donaldson.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency has approved a request for financial help with a wildfire.
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.