The Los Alamos fire

Fire sits atop miles of ridge line like a massive orange crown west of Espanola, New Mexico. It continues to rage through sacred grounds on the Santa Clara Pueblo Reservation.

Los Alamos fire

The fire burning near Los Alamos, New Mexico, is largest in state history. Its plumes routinely towers into pyrocumulus clouds that create their own weather.

Los Alamos fire

A checkpoint at the Los Alamos National Laboratory as the fire tears through the canyon to its west.

Los Alamos fire

Arizona firefighter Brad Pitassi talks about one of the fire's flanks and hopes of containment.

Los Alamos fire

A helitack chopper, one of the many air support units deployed to fight the Las Conchas blaze burning in rugged back country.

Los Alamos fire

Smoke rises from the Las Conchas fire near Los Alamos, N.M. — AP Photo/Jae C. Hong

A television producer watches smoke from the Las Conchas fire near Los Alamos, N.M., June 30, 2011.

Los Alamos fire

An International Space Station crew member took this photo of the Las Conchas fire near Los Alamos, N.M., on Monday, June 27, the fire's second day.

Los Alamos fire

A truck drives along the street as smoke from the Las Conchas fire fills the air in Los Alamos, N.M., June 30, 2011.

Los Alamos fire

Morgan Petroski,AP Photo/The Albuquerque Journal

The Las Conchas Fire burns along the top of a mesa, Wednesday, June 29, 2011 in Los Alamos, N,M.

Los Alamos fire

UC San Diego's engineering institute located at the Los Alamos National Laboratory is seen as flames rise from a wildfire in Los Alamos, N.M., Tuesday, June 28, 2011.

Los Alamos fire

Los Alamos residents Ross Van Lyssel, left, and Steve Bowers watch flames from the Las Conchas fire in Los Alamos, N.M., June 28, 2011.

Los Alamos fire

Spot fires burn off NM 4 in the Santa Fe National Forest on the fourth day of the Las Conchas fire on June 29, 2011 in Los Alamos, N.M.