Oil Well Fire Near Nageezi Prompts Evacuation

A fire that broke out Monday night at an oil-well site in San Juan County, New Mexico, was allowed to continue burning Tuesday after firefighters decided it would be safest to let it die on its own because it was too hot to approach. The Farmington Daily-Times reportsabout 36 oil-storage tanks were on fire at a five-acre WPX Energy site just off U.S. Highway 550 near Nageezi. More than 50 people had to be evacuated, but no injuries were reported. The Daily-Times said six new wells had just started producing this spring at the site. The cause of the blaze, which reportedly started a little after 10 p.m. Monday, was unknown. More than 50 emergency responders from several agencies turned out for the blaze.