Northern New Mexico wildfire near Dulce grows to more than 3,000 acres

A wildfire 22 miles west of Dulce has grown to 3,213 acres, and crews have no containment of its perimeter, fire officials said Wednesday.

The Southwest Area Complex Incident Management Team took command Wednesday of the Middle Mesa Fire, which was sparked by lightning Friday. There are 157 firefighters fighting the blaze, with 19 engines, three helicopters, four bulldozers and two water tenders, according to a news release from the incident management team.

Firefighters planned to "continue with their full suppression strategy," as well as with burning operations along the southeast side of the fire within Carracas Canyon, the release states. The fire is holding on the north side along Forest Road 218A, "but resources remain engaged patrolling and mopping up any lingering heat," it stat