By KRWG News
Silver City – Fire crews in New Mexico are mopping up a wildfire that investigators say was started by a vehicle's hot catalytic converter.
The Quail Ridge fire was declared 80 percent contained by Wednesday night after racing across nearly 1,800 acres and burning 13 houses and 47 other buildings.
About 100 people forced out by the wind-driven flames were escorted into their neighborhoods Tuesday evening to survey damage left from the fire that started Monday afternoon south of Silver City.
Gov. Susana Martinez toured the burn area Wednesday and met with some residents who lost their homes in the fire.
Officials say up to 100 structures within the burn area and another 100 buildings within a quarter-mile of the fire perimeter are still considered threatened.
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.