Range Fire Sweeps Over Sam Donaldson’s Ranch

A range fire raced across 1,600 acres of TV newsman Sam Donaldson’s ranch this week as blazes flared up across New Mexico and Arizona.

“Donaldson was at the ranch during the fire but was never in danger,” state Division of Forestry spokeswoman Terry Wildermuth said Thursday.

Lightning sparked the fire, which threatened a trailer, stock tank and a house on the 11,000-acre property Wednesday.

“There were people inside, but the fire didn’t get close,” she said.

Firefighters expected to have the blaze controlled by Friday.

It was one of 20 lightning fires burning in the state, including the Jemez Mountains in northcentral New Mexico, the Zuni Mountains in western New Mexico, the Gila National Forest in southwestern New Mexico and the Lincoln National Forest and nearby ranches in south-central New Mexico, said Nancy Neskauskas, another forestry spokeswoman.

In Arizona, firefighters facing winds gusting up to 50 mph managed to contain many of the fires.