'That land is spiritual, those houses are spiritual, it's sacred land.'
LAS VEGAS, N.M. - Daniel Encinias stands next to his camping trailer in a New Mexico evacuation area and says he will rebuild his home torched by the largest wildfire burning in the United States.
"We're displaced because of something that was done by forestry," said Encinias, 55, using the term common in the area for the USFS. "All I say is fix what's messed up ...." The fire has further strained relations with the U.S. government in villages that saw Spanish colonial land grants stolen by 19th century American speculators and subsistence use of ancestral forests restricted by the USFS.
A spokeswoman for the USFS Santa Fe National Forest, where the fire started, did not respond to requests for comment for this story. The second fire that the burn merged with is under investigation.In the past, homeowners have sued government agencies for controlled burns that went wrong. It also is common for people who have lost homes to receive payouts through emergency funds.
"That land is spiritual, those houses are spiritual, it's sacred land," Trujillo said. The blaze threatens Trujillo's historic city of 14,000 as well as villages over 30 miles north.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Resilience, anger as New Mexico wildfire burns 'sacred land'Daniel Encinias stands next to his camping trailer in a New Mexico evacuation area and says he will rebuild his home torched by the largest wildfire burning in the United States.
Read more »
Residents Wary as Fire Burns Near Northeast New Mexico TownResidents of the small northeast New Mexico town have been watching aircraft disappear into a giant plume of smoke to fight a growing wildfire that has burned hundreds of square miles.
Read more »
Residents wary as fire burns near northeast New Mexico townResidents of the small northeast New Mexico town of Las Vegas have been watching aircraft disappear into a giant plume of smoke to fight a growing wildfire that has burned hundreds of square miles, destroyed about 170 homes and threatens more destruction
Read more »
New Mexico Pilot Program Makes Child Care Free for Majority of Families\u0022We need federal dollars to make this happen everywhere in this country,\u0022 said one advocate.
Read more »
As wildfire closes in, New Mexico residents prepare to fleeWind-whipped flames are marching across more of New Mexico’s tinder-dry mountainsides, forcing the evacuation of area residents and dozens of patients from the state's psychiatric hospital as firefighters scramble to keep new wildfires from growing
Read more »
Wildfire in northeastern New Mexico expected to keep growingA wildfire near a small northeastern New Mexico community is expected to keep growing, but authorities were encouraged by a forecast for Tuesday of improving humidity and shifting winds.
Read more »