NM Fire Largest in State History

The Whitewater-Baldy fire in New Mexico became the largest wildfire in state history by burning over 215,000 acres near Glenwood, in the Gila National Forest of southwest New Mexico, according to New Mexico Fire Information. The previous state record was set last year near Los Conchas, burning 156,593 acres. For comparison, last year’s Wallow fire in Arizona and parts of New Mexico, the largest wildfire in Arizona history, burned 538,049 acres. The Whitewater-Baldy fire formed when two lightning-sparked fires merged into one, and it has so far destroyed a dozen homes, forced multiple evacuations, and is only 10 percent contained. Other fires still blaze in Arizona, California, and Colorado, but fortunately most are over 50 percent contained.