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Tuesday Wildfire; Evacuation Center At Cloudcroft High School

By KRWG News

Cloudcroft – New Mexico State Forestry officials say a lightning-caused wildfire has forced the precautionary evacuations of up to 250 residences near Mayhill.

The villages of Sacramento and Weed were evacuated Tuesday night, but authorities aren't sure how many of the affected homes are actually occupied but permanent or seasonal residents.

The so-called Little Lewis fire began shortly after noon Tuesday. It jumped containment lines and now is at an estimated 150 acres about 8 miles south of Mayhill.

Crews are aggressively fighting the blaze and say slurry drops have slowed but not stopped the spread of the flames.

An evacuation shelter has been set up at Cloudcroft High School for displaced residents.

A wildfire last month west of Mayhill burned 19,000 acres before being extinguished.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.