Wildland Firefighter Hurt by Exploding Device
July 07--SANTA FE -- A U.S. Forest Service wildland firefighter received minor injuries when he stepped on or kicked an object that exploded Monday afternoon northwest of the community of La Cueva off NM 4, west of the Valles Caldera National Preserve.
"I'm not sure I would use the word bomb," said Robin Pogue, special agent in charge at the Forest Service's Southwest Region office in Albuquerque. Lt. Keith Elder of the Sandoval County Sheriff's Office said the firefighter came a across a "glass container that was suspicious" and it exploded when he moved it with his foot.
Pogue said the firefighter is from California's Six Rivers National Forest and is currently assigned to the Jemez Ranger District of the Santa Fe forest. His name was not available and it's unknown what he was doing when the explosive occurred about 4 p.m.
Officers from the Forest Service, a State Police bomb squad, the sheriff's Office and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives responded to the site at Forest Roads 376 and 126, said Pogue. F.R.126 is the road to Fenton Lake State Park.
"My understanding is the injuries are minor," said Pogue. The firefighter was taken to University of New Mexico Hospital in Albuquerque.
Copyright 2014 - Albuquerque Journal, N.M.
