(CNN) - a centre for nuclear sciences near Sante Fe, New Mexico, will remain closed at least Thursday as a forest fire raging nearby, officials said.
"Laboratory facilities will be closed to all non-essential employees and activities are directed to stay off site," the National Laboratory in Los Alamos said in a statement.
The fire Los Alamos, formally called the Las Conchas fire, flared Sunday.
She had consumed approximately 61,000 acres at the beginning of Wednesday and only 3 percent contained, according to InciWeb, a database of online which ensures the monitoring of natural disasters such as fires and floods.
Everything has been under the control of the installation independently of a small fire that broke out Monday on the ground and was quickly extinguished, said Charles McMillan, Director of the laboratory.
The fire raised concerns about whether hazardous materials on the site are adequately protected.
McMillan said the materials are secure and any important information for the safety of the public could be announced.
The fire of Las Conchas affects the southern border of the installation of 40 square miles of the laboratory and comes close to the western border, according to Doug Tucker, the Los Alamos fire chief.
Governor of the New - Mexico Susana Martinez warned citizens to avoid using Fireworks on the fourth of July and the rest of the season.
The fire of Las Conchas is one of several burning in the region.
Area resident Susan River said that it is surrounded by fire.
"Look at my front door and see the fire Pacheco and watch my back door and see the fire in Los Alamos," River said Tuesday. "I think that many people in Santa Fe is in this situation now."
River, an employee of academic affairs at Santa Fe University of Art and Design, one of the victims of the Los Alamos hosted Monday night.
"It is very difficult for him," she said. "This is a very uncertain time." "This fire is therefore differently (than before)-this makes me a little nervous."
Las Conchas fire began on private land in the national forest of Santa Fe and Jemez Ranger District, according to InciWeb.
Pacheco fire continues to burn in the Pecos wilderness, two miles north of Santa Fe Ski Basin. It has singed 10,000 acres since it began June 18.
The blaze was contained Wednesday at the start of 20%, but it is likely to continue rising, from InciWeb.
The lights of Donaldson and set South of Hondo and U.S. route 70 merged to form a fire that has consumed an estimated 15,000 acres and is also 0% contained, according to the Information site of fire in New-Mexico.
Some structures were burned, however, and no one has been evacuated due to fire, which started by lightning, according to the Web site of.
Not only have to dry conditions and wind gusts threatened the growth of the fire, but the residents of Santa Fe and Los Alamos, including the River, fear of the effect of the fire Las Conchas will on the laboratory.
The laboratory is about 35 km northwest of Santa Fe, but the concerns of the River.
"They say that there is no real danger," she said. "But you know...". "It is a little scary."
Voluntary evacuations started Sunday night at Los Alamos and White Rock, a South-East of the town of Los Alamos, but quickly becomes mandatory for residents of Los Alamos Tuesday, according to InciWeb.
River attributed the success of these evacuations, in part, to past experiences.
"I think that everyone has learned a lot since the last fire," she said. "I must say that, from what I can see, the evacuation of Los Alamos was very effective and that it seemed to go smoothly."
River plans to leave the city if necessary and stay with friends who are out of the fire road, she said. CNN Ed Payne and Craig Bell contributed to this report
No comments:
Post a Comment