Ranchers feel effect of Wallow Fire as it nears NM line

June 11, 2011

the fire is now just six-percent contained - after burning through 408-thousand acres---and destroying 31 homes and cabins. officials say its on the brink of moving into new mexico. and tonight crews are preparing for a change in the weather. eddie garcia is live near reserve with tonight's big story. calm winds have helped firefighters a little over the past few days - but that's going to change tomorrow afternoon when high winds are expected to return. governor susana martinez was in town today looking at the plan of action for when that happens. governor susana martinez gets a first hand look at the battle plan as the luna area is staring down the barrel of the unquenchable wallow fire. the state is using a lot of resources to keep it from crossing state lines -- calm winds are giving firefighters some help, but the clock is ticking as those high winds are expected to return. the price tag isn't cheap more than 19 million in arizona has already been spent. "it's costing us to be here to of course with the support that we're providing but that's secondary. primary is safety and preventing that fire from coming across. crews are clearing out potential fuel for the fire in the area near luna and reserve -- many working here live in these towns. this is catastrophic for us. it's insult to injury for ranchers who are already devastated from a severe drought . tom patterson has over 400 hundred head of cattle that he's trying to move to safety. we have stressed cattle, they're already under stress from the drought, the fire is going to aggravate it, the smoke is going to aggravate it and we're out of water and out of grass. he's not concerned about losing cattle to the fire. his real fear is losing pasture land that might as well be green with dollars - devistating if destroyed. we might be two to five years before we can go back into those pastures. i have employees, what am i supposed to be doing with those employees for the next two to five years? there are no easy answers. it's all unpredictable, all at t mercy of mother natures whim. one certainty these people are all in it together. "we will bring whatever resources are necessary to fight that fire." the haze here in reserve wasn't as bad as it has been but it's expected to return tomorrow with the winds -- once again blanketing part of the state. live in reserve, eddie garcia kob eyewitness news 4.