Wildfires near Hobbs, Silver City are contained

Crews have fully contained a 250-acre grass fire near Hobbs and contained a small wildfire that briefly threatened about 40 homes near Silver City. Some homes north of Silver City near the Little Walnut Campground were voluntarily evacuated Wednesday afternoon because of the so-called Gomez fire. The fire burned grass, pinon juniper and oak brush. U.S. Forest Service officials say a previous thinning project helped slow the blaze's progression and it was eventually contained at about 10 acres. The cause of the fire remains unclear. The Silver City Sun-News reported that residents were allowed back in their homes by 8 p.m. Meanwhile, authorities say the so-called Harr fire that was started near Hobbs by a welder's torch Wednesday afternoon was fully contained by nightfall. No structures were damaged. AP