SocorroTexas.com HOTELS • REAL ESTATE • JOBS

Socorro Calendar of Events

Sat
02 Jun El Paso Psychic Fair - Readings - New Age El Paso Psychic Fair 14 Professional Traveling Psychics from all over Texas and New Mexico. Ask them anything. Discuss anyt…

---

Fri
15 Jun George Lopez Event: George LopezVenue: Abraham Chavez TheatreStart: 6/15/2012 8:00:00 PMCategory: CONCERTS COMEDY…

---

Fri
15 Jun Comedian Rodman Live in El Paso Comedian Rodman (Comedy Central, First Amendment Standup, Comic View) performing Live in El Paso! Rod Thompson is a natural …

---

See More Socorro Events

Socorro Area News

Neighbors try to put out house fire

A Central El Paso family was left homeless today after its home was engulfed in flames. 

El Paso Fire officials told KFOX14 when they arrived on scene, neighbors were trying to put the fire out with garden hoses. 

The family of five, who live in the home, were not home at the time. Neighbors said they were at the pool. 

Fire officials said it took about 10 minutes to get the fire under control. There is severe damage to the living room and damage to the kitchen but the fire department said it is too early to estimate the cost of the damage. 

The cause of the fire is still under investigation. 

Fire officials said the Red Cross will assist the displaced family. 

_{Mon, 28 May 2012 16:57:36 -0600}

Water restrictions tighten as drought continues

Although the weather is hot, the EL Paso Water Utilities is asking people to remember to cut back on water usage as the city continues to experience a severe drought. 

The drought is the worst the city has seen in more than 50 years. With the temperature rising, people may be tempted to water more and leave their swamp coolers on longer. However, the El Paso Water Utilities said they won't have enough river water to meet the demand. 

Water has not been released from Elephant Butte to the completely dry Rio Grande and won't be until sometime next week. 

"The last time water was released from Elephant Butte and Cabio Lakes into the river was back on May 4," said Martin Bartlett of the El Paso Water Utilities. "We don't expect water to be released again until the end of May and that water should make it back to El Paso by about the first or second day of June. That will be when we're out of this critical period of conservation." 

At the beginning of the month, people were asked to cut down on watering their lawns to only two times a week. However, coming into this week, they were asked to cut down to one day. 

Bartlett says water use is being tracked daily and the goal is for the city to use 125 million gallons a day. Last Thursday, the city used 135 million gallons. Bartlett said that if people don't voluntarily cut back, these restrictions will be mandatory. 

_{Mon, 28 May 2012 16:33:07 -0600}

Fire rages at Gila National Forest, residents worry it will spread even more

Residents who live near the Gila National Forest told KFOX14 that they're worried flames will continue to spread and may destroy their homes or force them to evacuate.

So far, the Whitewater-Baldy Complex fire has reached nearly 133,000 acres.

Fire officials said it started as two separate fires believed to be sparked by lightning last Sunday. But by Tuesday, the two fires combined, forming a huge blaze that's forced two towns to evacuate and has destroyed at least 13 homes.

At this point, barely 1 percent of the fire is considered to be contained, and since drier air has moved into the area it's likely the fire can spread through the steep terrain.

"The smoke's really been boiling up pretty heavy," Reserve resident Doug Baird said. "It's in a real tough area where they couldn't get to it very easily. There's several of our friends, ranchers and all that have evacuated and are evacuating some of their animals right now. They're trying to keep them out of the fire's way."

Fire officials said because of the strong wind gusts and lack of heavy rains, the fire isn't expected to be fully contained until early or mid-July.

_{Mon, 28 May 2012 16:32:39 -0600}

News Source: MedleyStory More Local News Stories