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Carson National Forest firefighters responded to a lightning-caused fire on the Jicarilla Ranger District this afternoon. The approximately 400-acre American Mesa Fire is located off Forest Road 310E, about 16 miles southwest of Dulce, N.M.  Firefighters, with the assistance of air resources, took suppression actions to limit the fire’s growth and protect nearby natural gas infrastructure. Incident command staff are ordering more resources and coordinating with local agencies. 

With the wildfires come smoke. Strengthening wind is currently pushing smoke from the American Mesa Fire to the east, which may affect areas along the New Mexico-Colorado border and as far south as Dulce, Chama, Tres Piedras and Questa. Other fires are contributing, too: the Lake Fire near Navajo Lake, the Dry Fire on the San Juan National Forest and fires in northern Arizona. So far, it looks like this smoke will be lofted in the air, creating hazy skies but not affecting surface level air quality.