As of early April, crews around the state have dealt with a large, wind-fueled. Several wildfires in the statehave been fueled by a warm, dry spring. Today, New Mexico marks a solemn anniversary of the Hermits Peak Fire that upended the lives of far too many New Mexicans, Lujan said in a Thursday statement. Always check with your local fire department or government agency for the latest information. This page presents a snapshot of New Mexico fire losses reported through the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) in 2020. Fast-spreading fires are possible from New Mexico to Kansas. The state's blazes include the Cooks Peak fire, which has grown to 59,000 acres in Mora County, and the Cerro Pelado fire, a 29,000-acre blaze within 5.5 miles of Los Alamos National. The wildfires come in another year of severe drought for the Southwest. The massive wildfire all but extinguished a way of life rich in traditions that had been passed down for generations in the remote Sangre de Cristo Mountains, 2,000 square miles of forestland spread across northern New Mexico. This spring, the risk factors aligned for an extreme fire season in New Mexico, said Park Williams, an associate professor at the University of California, Los Angeles, who studies long-term drought trends and the effects of climate change. There are currently 16 large fires burning across four states, including Arizona, Colorado and Alaska. The fire began on Friday in a remote location south of Animas, about one mile east of Black Mountain, according to a release from the New Mexico State Forestry Division. Two fires east of Santa Fe -- the Calf Canyon Fire and the Hermits Peak Fire -- have merged, burning a combined 42,341 acres, fire officials said Saturday morning. New Mexico State University - Fire Department To submit a letter to the editor for publication, write to, A Perfect Recipe for Extreme Wildfire: New Mexicos Record-Breaking, Early Fire Season, Source: NASA/Fire Information for Resource Management System. There are, on average, 17.7 people per square mile. MORA COUNTY, N.M. Benito Sanchez has been living in an Albuquerque hotel room with his ailing, 100-year-old grandmother for the past year after the state's largest wildfire burned their . . The dry conditions and blowing winds result in a high risk of the current fire spreading, according to Gray. A red-flag warning is in effect for the area surrounding the fire, with near-critical fire weather conditions, dry lightning, and shifting winds expected amid ongoing dry conditions. NM Fire Info | Fire Restrictions But with the drier weather comes the potential for record heat. About 190 miles south of Santa Fe, the McBride Fire started Tuesday afternoon and quickly expanded into a major fire that threatened Ruidoso High School and the village of Ruidoso, which declared a state of emergency. Crews respond to Yankee Fire in Socorro County Picture taken April 12, 2022. Add high winds to the mix and you have the perfect recipe for extreme wildfire, Dr. Williams said. The bill's passage comes about a year one such burn resulted in a wildfire that burned hundreds of thousands of acres. Find Current Fire Restrictions - Forestry Grisham said the state has submitted a request for a Federal Emergency Management Agency grant that could help get more resources to fight the Big Hole Fire. Michelle Lujan Grisham issued a state of emergency for Colfax, Lincoln, San Miguel and Valencia counties on Friday due to the fire threat. The Office of Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham is located on the fourth floor of . Debris should be kept at least 50 feet from a home, EMNRD reported, and all trees and shrubs should be removed within 30 feet. Previously announced in 2022, the idea is to use expertise from the Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department (EMNRD), New Mexico Highlands University, New Mexico State University, and the University of New Mexico to plant millions of trees each year. Forest Service is committed to conducting prescribed fire under safe conditions, said Michelle Burnett, a representative for the agency, noting that in the vast majority of cases prescribed fires go as planned. 23, 2023 The most recent US drought Monitor report Thursday morning showed an increase in exceptional drought, the highest level, which now covers nearly 50% of New Mexico. The fire, which started as two separate blazes that later merged, has damaged or destroyed more than 350 homes and other buildings so far, but no lives have been lost. Batteries in the detectors should be replaced at least annually. About 250 miles to the southwest, the Black Fire in the Gila National Forest is only 44% contained as of Thursday. He called on the federal government to work closely with New Mexicans rebuilding in the aftermath of the tragedy. Active Fire (<1000 acres) NEW, FAST Growing Fire. Depending on the fire conditions, officials will call for evacuations. "All the memories were there," she said. And large, destructive wildfires have become more common, especially in California. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Sam Wasson/Sipa/AP. Michelle Lujan Grisham calling on the Forest Service to take a hard look at their fire management practices and make sure they account for a rapidly changing climate.. About 25 tents were destroyed in the fires Wednesday and Thursday in Matamoros, across from Brownsville, Texas. New Mexico Wildfire Map - Fire, Weather & Avalanche Center Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Source: National Interagency Fire Center | Note: Data is through May 30. No injuries were reported, but the area's structure losses were the worst so far among the state's four wildfires of concern this week. The two massive wildfires across New Mexico have cumulatively consumed an area nearly the size of the state of Rhode Island. Please coordinate with the office or individual you plan to visit before your arrival. Terrain Satellite Forest Service Carto Open Street Map. If you would like to schedule an annual fire inspection for an existing business or building or have any questions, please contact the Fire Marshal's Office at (505) 764-6300 to make an appointment. When you have arrived at the Onate Complex please call 505-476-9600 Please plan to arrive early to allow for entry into the Onate Complex and signing into the DHSEM Building. In addition, we perform medical standbys for all athletic games, special events, and concerts. Although Naranjo never received a formal explanation, a FEMA official said claims can be denied for many reasons, including not having proper documentation. A firefighter puts out a hot spot from a wildfire in Mora County, N.M., on May 13. 7 Apr. The Black Fire is now the second-largest fire in New Mexico history, with 298,440 acres burned, according to the group. It's one of a handful of large wildfires that have put the state on edge amid a red flag fire warning that covered much of New Mexico this week. Fire Protection Fund Distribution FY 2021. Many of these forests, naturally speaking, are adapted to burn, said Blanca Cespedes, a fire ecologist at New Mexico Highlands University in Las Vegas, a city threatened by the Hermits Peak and Calf Canyon blaze. State forestry officials say the fire was first reported on Tuesday morning and was burning . It is the largest fire in the United States so far this year and the largest ever recorded in New Mexico. The Black Fire in New Mexico burns on May 18. It also established the Hermits Peak Claims Office within the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA). Most hail from Venezuela, Haiti and Mexico. There have been few updates and the latest acreage for the blaze was unclear Tuesday night. The explosive, early start to this years Southwestern fire season reflects the convergence of long-term trends a forest landscape overgrown after decades of aggressive fire suppression and parched by drought; springtime temperatures warmed by human-caused climate change and more immediate dangers, like the relentless winds that have fanned the flames. Choose Microsoft Edge or Firefox if this happens. SOCORRO COUNTY, N.M. Crews are battling a 300 acre wildfire near the town of Socorro in New Mexico. The functions of the State Fire Marshals Office are divided into four sections. The following list does not reflect all fire restrictions or updates in the state. But erratic afternoon winds propelled this burn beyond the reach of firefighters. 2. This devastation led Sen. Ron Griggs (R-34) of Alamogordo to sponsor Senate Bill 21 during this years legislative session, to ban the use of prescribed burns during days when red flag wind warnings are issued by the National Weather Service. State forester Laura McCarthy said trees posing a hazard near roads would be cut down. New Home - Welcome to NewMexico.gov In fact, more than two dozen cities in the southwestern US could exceed daily record values this weekend. IE 11 is not supported. This would hasten recovery, but Griggs said more effort was needed to prevent wildfires and their destruction. The purpose of the New Mexico State Fire Marshal's Office is to protect lives and property from the devastating affects of fire. Please take every precaution just one spark can start a wildfire! she said in a tweet. LAS CRUCES, N.M. (KRQE) - The government and several New Mexico universities are gearing up to replant fire-ravaged land around the state. Gov. 2023 Cable News Network. The fire was burning on both sides of the Rio Grande on Tuesday. Provide two exits for all sleeping areas. Officials said the tens of millions of dead trees could topple over and reburn. The Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon Fire has been ablaze since May 19. Gov. Dirty, brownish water flows down streams, and beetles search for sap in the carcasses of trees. Ruidoso was also experiencing power outages, officials said. Fire Grant: Home Wildfires | KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico The Hermits Peak fire began in early April when a prescribed burn by the U.S. Forest Service grew out of control. "The federal government started the largest wildfire in our state's history," he said . In a statement, Ruidoso attributed the downsizing to a successful firefight from the air. Citing current extreme wildfire risk conditions in the field, the Forest Service on May 20 temporarily suspended all prescribed fire operations across the country for 90 days pending a review of best practices. No fire restrictions reported at this time. Dennis Romero is a breaking news reporter for NBC News Digital. As wildfire closes in, New Mexico residents prepare to flee It has destroyed hundreds of homes and grown to a perimeter of over 500 miles. Did you encounter any technical issues? Wildfire Response and Recovery Information, 1220 South St. Francis Drive Santa Fe, NM 87505, Copyright 2021-2022 Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department, Click Here for Current Fire Restrictions Ordered by the State Forester in 2022, NM Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, Application Forms General Permits, Minimal Impact, Regular Exploration, Forest and Watershed Restoration Act (FAWRA), Forest Regulations and Best Management Practices (BMP), Forest and Watershed Health Coordinating Group, Forest Industry Map and Biomass/Utilization Information, Plan a Project with the Environmental Review Tool (ERT), Alternative Fuels & Sustainable Transportation, Framework for a Uniquely New Mexico 30 x 30, Carbon sequestration through land conservation, Natural Heritage Conservation Act and Natural Lands Protection Act, Apply for a land conservation tax investment credit, Sustainable Education for Advanced Buildings, The Radioactive Waste Consultation Task Force, WIPP Transportation Safety Program Laws and Regulations, Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPP), Master Cooperative Agreement (WFMR) and Interstate Mutual Aid Agreement, Technical Assistance to Landowners and Communities, Solar Market Development Tax Credit (SMDTC), Renewable Energy Production Tax Credit (REPTC), Master Cooperative Agreement and Interstate Mutual Aid Agreement, Technical Assistance for Landowners and Communities, Apply for a Land Conservation Tax Investment Credit. Socorro, NM. Largest powwow draws Indigenous dancers to New Mexico Both fires broke the previous record of 297,845 acres from the Whitewater-Baldy fire in 2012. The informational web tool is designed to provide clear, easy-to-find fire restrictions information in New Mexico and Arizona. Large fires are raging in New Mexico, and the worst may be coming Lujan Grisham signs burn ban into law to prevent New Mexico wildfires Crews in northern New Mexico have cut and cleared containment lines around nearly half of the perimeter of the nation's largest active wildfire while bracing for a return of weather conditions which could fan flames and send embers aloft. Patrick Griego, 63, lost 400 acres and 72,000 trees, putting a financial strain on his business selling logs to companies that make flooring. CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. New Mexicos largest and most destructive blaze has burned for nearly two months, alone consuming more than 315,000 acres of land an area about the size of the city of Los Angeles. That number is almost double the yearly average of 260,000 acres. Nobody is coming to our rescue, and the government started the fire.. They didnt ask for this. New Mexico State Fire Fighters Association - Nmsffa The Elk Creek fire department from Colorado watches the fire blaze across a ridgeline near the Taos County line as firefighters from all over the country converge on Northern New Mexico to battle the Hermit's Peak and Calf Canyon fire on May 13, 2022. Trees and shrubs should be pruned so there is at least a 10-foot gap between the outermost branches, and lower branches should be removed up to 10 feet off the ground, read the report. Theres a huge amount of work ahead of us, Dr. Burney said, both on the front end to make sure we wont have these destructive fires and on the tail end knowing well have some and have to restore the land., Note: Fire perimeters on top map are through May 31.
Cute Mushroom Nicknames,
Forsyth County Elections 2022,
David Gottlieb Obituary,
Fellsmere Dump Hours Of Operation,
Articles N