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Crews on Monday continued to build control lines and conducted more firing operations on the Mestenas Canyon Fire, which has grown to 628 acres with 30% containment.

Containment was gained on the fire’s southern edge, and a ¾-mile stretch of Forest Road 312 was blacklined, which is when fire personnel burn fuels along a control line ahead of an approaching fire.

“Despite the complicated location of where this fire started, our progress is looking good,” said District Ranger Jim Eaton, referring to point of origin where lightning ignited the incident in a steep canyon rife with dangerous snags.

There are no evacuations, but oil and gas infrastructure, archeological sites, dispersed camping areas and inholdings may be threatened if the fire grows beyond planned control lines.

The lightning-caused Mestenas Canyon Fire was first reported July 11. It is in the canyon of the same name, about 14 miles southwest of Dulce, N.M., and two miles north of Highway 64, where smoke may cause limited visibility to drivers.

The public can keep updated on the fire by visiting InciWeb or calling a public information officer at 505-216-6793.