Strong winds have forced Los Alamos National Laboratory to postpone two high explosives tests scheduled for this week.
The tests— which have been commonplace at the lab for decades— have been under fire recently from local environmental groups fearing they could cause a forest fire due to spring winds.
"Is the lab ready if another fire gets out of control?" asked Joni Arends of Concerned Citizens for Nuclear Safety.
Arends said the group has heard from several residents who have heard recent tests feared they could lead to a forest fire.
"It sounded like a sonic boom," said Santa Fe County resident Sara Vacha, describing the sound of a recent test that she feared would break the windows in her artists studio.
Lab spokesman James Rickman said Los Alamos routinely postpones high explosive tests because of unfavorable conditions.
"We will cancel a shot at any time if it's appropriate to do so," Rickman said.
Rickman said explosions scheduled for Wednesday and today have been postponed. The National Weather Service in Albuquerque issued a red flag warning Wednesday for strong winds and low humidities for northern and central New Mexico.
Rickman said explosive tests always have firefighters standing by. The detonations are commonly used to test the behavior of materials under extreme conditions or to dispose of explosives, he said.
Concerned Citizens has long raised concerns about explosive tests and prescribed burns at Los Alamos, fearing they could lead to a wildfire like the 2000 Cerro Grande Fire that destroyed hundreds of Los Alamos homes.
Two prescribed burns at the lab scheduled for last November that had been opposed by Concerned Citizens were postponed because of snow. The lab has put off prescribed burns at least until this fall.
