What was initially reported as a structure fire at about 1:30 Wednesday afternoon, sending fire crew from Rio Rancho, Corrales and Sandoval County to a location more than four miles north of Northern Boulevard and just over six miles west of Unser Boulevard turned out to be a large pile of telephone poles ablaze.  There was no immediate cause of the fire determined; PNM sent a crew out to the scene to shut off power, which may affect residents in that area, so fire crews can safely battle the blaze, helped along by the wind coming out of the west.

Looking east, from a spot a few yards west of the conflagration Wednesday afternoon. (Herron photo)