Fire

Human-Caused Lumberton Fire Burns 100 Acres

by

EMNRD-Forestry Division News:

The Lumberton Fire started just before noon Sunday and is burning on private land off Highway 64, east of Lumberton in Rio Arriba County.

The fire is threatening approximately four homes, two of which have been evacuated.

The human-caused fire is moving toward Jicarilla Apache Tribal Lands. Gusting wind with speeds up to 29 miles per hour has been fueling the fire. Fuels include Ponderosa pine and brush.

Multiple resources from State Forestry, Chama Volunteer Fire Department, Dulce Volunteer Fire Department and the BIA are working this fire from the ground Read More

Student From Los Alamos Dillon Alexander Graduates College … Prepared To ‘Tackle Almost Anything’

by

Los Alamos native Dillon Alexander fighting forest fires. Courtesy photo

Los Alamos native Dillon Alexander is graduating with a degree in fire management. Courtesy photo

By KASSANDRA TUTEN
University of Idaho Communications

Dillon Alexander spent his childhood exploring the juniper woodlands and ponderosa pine forests near his home in northern New Mexico.

Now, he graduates with a degree in fire management from the College of Natural Resources at the University of Idaho, building on a fascination that began in his youth in 2000.

That year, the Cerro Grande Fire burned 43,000 acres of the Read More

New Mexico Distinguished Service Medal Recipient Recalls 10-Day Experience In Los Alamos During Cerro Grande Fire

by

For his efforts during the Cerro Grande Fire, Sgt. First Class Jason Riley of Los Alamos receives New Mexico Distinguished Service Medal from Brig. Gen. Alex Garcia in 2000 while Col. Mark Dow, center, looks on. Courtesy photo

By JASON RILEY
Formerly of Los Alamos

In 2000, I was serving as an active-duty soldier with the New Mexico Army National Guard in Albuquerque. As a 1988 (barely) graduate of Los Alamos High School and general lover of Los Alamos, I was paying particular attention to the course of the Cerro Grande Fire and anxiously awaiting news that I would be sent to LA as part of the Guard’s Read More

Los Alamos County Fire Marshal Wendy Servey Enacts Baseline Fire Restrictions Effective Immediately

by

Fire Marshal Wendy Servey

COUNTY News:

Los Alamos Fire Department’s Fire Marshal Wendy Servey announced today that she is enacting Baseline Fire Restrictions for Los Alamos County, effective immediately.

Servey said the decision was made in partnership with LAFD’s Wildland Division today after reviewing the potential threat of wildfire, especially in light of the on-going COVID-19 pandemic emergency.

“Nationwide, the response to COVID-19 is straining all emergency response resources,” Servey said. “It requires a new way of operating. Large wildfires require an inter-agency response Read More

Cerro Grande Fire Of 2000 And COVID-19 Pandemic In 2020 … Commonalities And Differences In Disaster

by

Cerro Grande Fire viewed from downtown Los Alamos Sunday, May 7, 2000. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com

By TERALENE FOXX
Los Alamos

The week of May 4th is an anniversary week. Twenty years ago, the Cerro Grande Fire changed the physical and emotional landscape of the community. I had just breathed a sigh of relief that the interviews and writing of a book about the resilience after the Cerro Grande Fire was completed when a new event occurred. I had previously written stories about the Cerro Grande Fire in 2000 and 2010. My first thought was, “Not Again!” That is my usual response to a new event Read More

Drying Trend, Human Carelessness Raise Wildfire Potential Across Santa Fe National Forest

by

This is fire season and the drying trend across the SFNF raises wildfire potential. Courtesy/SFNF

SFNF News:

SANTA FE – An ongoing drying trend across the 1.6 million acres of the Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF) combined with continued negligence by a small number of forest visitors have fire managers concerned about an early start to the 2020 fire season.

Despite the campfire ban that went into effect on April 15, fire patrols on the first weekend in May reported 11 abandoned campfires, and law enforcement officers ticketed multiple illegal campfires. Fortunately, none of the prohibited campfires Read More

NWS: Today’s High Near 78; Tonight’s Low Around 46

by

The National Weather Service forecasts today’s high in Los Alamos near 78 with sunny skies and breezy conditions, winds 10 to 15 mph increasing to 20 to 25 mph in the afternoon and tonight’s low around 46. Courtesy/NWS

The National Weather Service forecasts today’s strong west to northwest winds with very low relative humidity, hot temperatures, and an unstable air mass will elevate the risk for dangerous fire weather conditions. Courtesy/NWS
 Read More

Los Alamos Historical Society Commemorates 20th Anniversary Of Cerro Grande Fire

by

A photograph taken during the Cerro Grande Fire in 2000. Courtesy/Los Alamos Historical Society Archives

Editor’s note: Read detailed accounts of the 20th anniversary of the Cerro Grande Fire in the Thursday print edition of the Los Alamos Daily Post.

By KIRSTEN LASKEY
Los Alamos Daily Post
kirsten@ladailypost.com

Los Alamos is no stranger to crisis. The town was established during a period of huge crisis, World War II, and times of struggle have appeared throughout its history.

Today marks the 20th anniversary of one of these critical milestones – the Cerro Grande Fire.

May 4, 2000 was when Read More

Los Alamos Firefighters Treated To Appreciation Dinner

by

Los Alamos Fire Department Battalion Chief Ben Stone, right, of the B-Shift begins to distribute dinners Saturday that he provided to firefighters at each of the fire stations throughout Los Alamos and White Rock in appreciation for their efforts and dedication on the job during the public health crisis. The dinners were prepared by Sanchez Cocina and Catering in Albuquerque. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com

The firefighters at Station 6 on East Road pose for a photo with Battalion Chief Ben Stone, right, and at center, Destinee Sanchez and Victor Carrete of Sanchez Cocina and Catering. Read More