Wildfire closes U.S. Hwy 62/180 near Carlsbad Caverns, grows to 15,000 acres

The wildfire that started Monday in Carlsbad Caverns National Park has continued to spread and remains totally uncontained, fire officials say. The fire area is now near 15,000 acres, and the smoke plume extendes across half the horizon from southwest to northeast. The spreading fire caused the N.M. Department of Transportation to close U.S. Highway 62/180 from White's City to Dark Canyon. Later this morning, the closure was extended from Dark Canyon to the Texas state line, according to information from the Park Service. link