Eddy County firefighters fight fire south of Carlsbad
Mike SmithFive Eddy County fire units spent several hours fighting a fire at a saltwater disposal well Friday morning south of Carlsbad, said Josh Mack, Eddy County Fire Services Director.
Mack didn’t have an immediate cause or damage estimate of the fire which burned at New Mexico State Road 128 and Red Road.
He said volunteer units from Otis, Malaga, Happy Valley, Riverside and Eddy County Fire Services were dispatched to the fire around 4:38 a.m. Friday.
Support local journalism. Subscribe to the Carlsbad Current-Argus.
No injuries were reported as 12 firefighting personnel contained the fire. Mack said crews left the scene around 9:10 a.m.
Mack didn’t have the name of the well’s owners and said the investigation won’t be conducted by Eddy County Fire Services.
“The companies conduct the investigations. We only get involved when there are injuries or deaths. Unless requested by the company,” he said.
More:Sitting Bull Fire west of Carlsbad extinguished quickly by US Forest Service, multiple crews
Two strong thunderstorms with multiple lightning events were reported across southeast New Mexico early Friday morning, per information from the National Weather Service (NWS) in Midland, Texas.
Forecaster Julie Phillipson said no reports of lightning damage were received by the NWS as of 9:30 a.m. Friday.
"There's been quite a few fires started by lightning for the past few weeks," she said.
Phillipson said high wind gusts were reported in Tatum in Lea County and in Denver City, Texas as a result of thunderstorms.
More:Lightning scorches tank battery near Carlsbad
This is a developing story and will be updated when more information is available.
Mike Smith can be reached at 575-628-5546 or by email at MSmith@currentargus.com or @ArgusMichae on Twitter.