Cerro Grande Fire

The Cerro Grande Fire was a prescribed forest fire in Los Alamos, New Mexico, United States of America, that occurred in May of 2000. The fire started as a controlled burn, and became uncontrolled owing to high winds and drought conditions. Over 400 families in the town of Los Alamos, New Mexico, lost their homes in the resulting 43,000-acre (170 km2) fire. Structures at Los Alamos National Laboratory were also destroyed or damaged, although without loss or destruction of any of the special nuclear material housed there. No loss of human life occurred. The US General Accounting Office estimated total damages at $1 billion.

Cerro Grande Fire
The smoke plume on May 11, 2000, reaches the panhandle of Oklahoma (NOAA image).
Date(s)May 4 – July 20, 2000
LocationLos Alamos, New Mexico
Statistics
Total area43,000 acres (170 km2)
Impacts
DamageUSD $1 billion (2000)
Ignition
CauseControlled Burn going out of control
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