Publication Date June 16, 2016 | Albuquerque Journal

Dog Head Fire: Authorities call on Chilili residents to evacuate; Gov. declares state of emergency

United States
The Dog Head fire spread to 2,000 acres Wednesday night as crews fought to keep it away from towns and structures. Mandatory evacuations were ordered for Chilili and Escabosa. Photo: Roberto E. Rosales / Albuquerque Journal
The Dog Head fire spread to 2,000 acres Wednesday night as crews fought to keep it away from towns and structures. Mandatory evacuations were ordered for Chilili and Escabosa. Photo: Roberto E. Rosales / Albuquerque Journal

The Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office on Wednesday evening began a mandatory evacuation of Chilili as the Dog Head Fire, which more than tripled in size, traveled its way.

“It is very, very close to the town itself,” Forest Service spokeswoman Arlene Perea said about 6 p.m. Wednesday. “It’s knocking at the door.”

BCSO spokeswoman Felicia Romero said Wednesday night that the blaze, which reportedly had flame lengths of 100 feet at times, had come within three miles of the town...

Perea estimated that the fire had more than tripled in size since Wednesday morning, when officials reported that it had charred 682 acres. By 11 p.m., it was estimated at 2,000 acres