Bulldozers, aircraft used to fight fire near New Mexico city

NEW MEXICO (AP) — Calmer weather conditions in northern New Mexico are helping over 1,000 firefighters battling the nation’s largest active wildfire. They were trying on Saturday to prevent it from getting closer to the state’s small city of Las Vegas, where ashes fell. Strong winds pushed the fire on Friday across some containment lines and toward the city of 13,000.

A fire operations official said the fire’s rapid growth to 152 square miles forced crews on Friday to repeatedly change positions because of dangerous conditions. No injuries were reported. The official says improved weather Saturday would allow air support for ground crews as bulldozers clear containment lines.

The fire has burned at least 166 homes.