Fire

Smokey Bear Celebrates 81st Birthday

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The original Smokey Bear poster. Fire safety has been the goal all along. Courtesy/USDA Forest Service

USDA News:

At the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service, wildfire prevention is a big priority. There’s no better ambassador of that essential message than everyone’s favorite wildfire prevention bear, Smokey.

Aug. 9 was Smokey’s 81st birthday, and as he enters his 9th decade of wildfire prevention activism, take a look back at where it all started.

80 plus years of wildfire messaging

First appearing on a wildfire prevention poster in August of 1944, Smokey Bear quickly became Read More

Los Alamos Firefighters Hold ‘Push-In Ceremony’

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Los Alamos Fire Department Firefighters held a ‘push-in ceremony’ for their new engine Monday afternoon at Station No. 3 in White Rock. A ‘push-in ceremony’ is a tradition where a new fire truck is ceremoniously pushed into the fire station bay by firefighters. This practice, originating with horse-drawn engines needing manual placement, symbolizes the truck entering active service and honors the history of firefighting. It often includes a ‘wet down’ initiating the new engine. Its predecessor is being placed in the department’s reserved vehicles section. LANL Fire Protection Specialist Read More

Laguna Wildfire Weekly Update: 85% Contained Aug. 11

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Recent scene of the aftermath of the lightning caused Laguna Wildfire in the Coyote Ranger District, 8 miles north of N.M. 96 and west of the Chama River Canyon Wilderness.Courtesy/SFNF

SFNF News:

Acres: 17,415

Start Date: June 25, 2025

Containment: 85 percent

Location: Located in the Coyote Ranger District, 8 miles north of N.M. 96 and west of the Chama River Canyon Wilderness.

Personnel: 17 

Resources: 2 engines | 1 module | 1 water tender                     

Fuels: Oak brush, ponderosa pine, Piñon-juniper

Highlights: Updates will be provided once a week, unless significant Read More

Ryti: Thanking Sen. Heinrich For Leadership In Finding Practical Solutions To Promote Health Of Forests & Communities

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By RANDALL RYTI
Los Alamos

I thank Senator Heinrich for his leadership in finding practical solutions to promote the health of our forests and our communities with practical legislation to boost forest service land management (see ‘Heinrich, Warnock, Daines, Justice Introduce Legislation To Protect Communities From Increasingly Catastrophic Wildfires, Boost Forest Management At Forest Service’, (https://ladptest2.ortizaudio.net/heinrich-warnock-daines-justice-introduce-legislation-to-protect-communities-from-increasingly-catastrophic-wildfires-boost-forest-management-at-forest-service/ Read More

Forest Service: New Mexico Fire Positions For 2026

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SFNF News:

SANTA FE — The Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF) of the USDA Forest Service is hiring – looking for dedicated individuals to support fire operations. These positions are vital to wildfire preparedness and disaster response across federal and state agencies.

Jobs include dispatchers, equipment operators, fire engine operators, fire prevention specialists, forestry aids and technicians, handcrew members, helitack crew members, hotshot crew members, prescribed fire and fuels specialists, smokejumpers, and more. 

Applications are open now through Aug. 22, 2025 on USAJobs.gov Read More

Los Alamos Firefighters Conduct Lifesaving Training This Week In Empty Chamisa Elementary School Building

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Firefighters with the Los Alamos Fire Department (LAFD) are utilizing the old Chamisa Elementary School in White Rock this week as a training platform to sharpen their skills. Los Alamos Public Schools Superintendent Jennifer Guy is providing LAFD with a unique opportunity to train firefighters in this empty, decades-old school, which will eventually be demolished. In this exercise, firefighters train in a smoke-filled classroom to locate and rescue victims. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com

In this exercise, a firefighter locates a fellow firefighter who has collapsed and begins Read More

Guns Vs. Hoses To ‘Battle’ For Special Olympics Aug. 22

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LAPD News:

The Los Alamos Police Department (LAPD) and Los Alamos Fire Department (LAFD) will be playing a softball game at 6 p.m., Friday, Aug. 22, on Lovato Field at Overlook Park in White Rock.

This “Guns” (LAPD) and “Hoses” (LAFD) fun battle is being held to raise money for the Special Olympics. It has been a long tradition for LAPD and LAFD to come together to support local Special Olympic athletes.  

Police and Fire members paid $25 per person to put on this game for the public; the game is free to watch, but donations will go to support this cause.

For more information, contact Det. Cindy Garcia Read More

Laguna Wildfire Information Moves To Weekly Updates

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Forest Service News:

The Laguna Wildfire, sparked by lightning on June 25, has now consumed 17,415 acres and remains 78 percent contained. The fire is in the Coyote Ranger District, 8 miles north of N.M. 96 and west of the Chama River Canyon Wilderness.

Note: Updates will be provided once a week, starting today, Monday, Aug. 4, unless significant activity or changes occur. The next Laguna Wildfire Daily Update will be provided Monday, Aug. 11.

All fire lines held overnight. Although there is increased fire activity on the north end of the wildfire, the fire remains within containment lines. Read More

LAFD Provided Rare Training Opportunity At Empty School

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Los Alamos Fire Department was given the unique opportunity this morning to train in an empty, decades-old school building, at left, as students will be attending classes later this month in their newly completed building, at right. LAFD Training Chief Aaron McNiff thanked Los Alamos Public Schools Superintendent Jennifer Guy and Assistant Superintendent Mike Johnson for allowing the local firefighters to train at the old Chamisa Elementary School on Meadow Lane in White Rock. ‘This is a rare opportunity for our firefighters to be able to train in a school building that is empty and scheduled Read More

BAER Map Shows Laguna Wildfire Soil Burn Severity Low

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Ponderosa pine forest in Laguna Wildfire showing low soil burn severity, with 81 percent low, very low, or unburned soil burn severity. Low soil burn severity (SBS) generally occurs where surface organic layers are not completely consumed and are still recognizable. Structural aggregate stability is not changed from its unburned condition, and roots are generally unchanged because the heat pulse below the soil surface was not great enough to consume or char any underlying organics. The ground surface, including any exposed mineral soil, may appear brown or black (lightly charred), and Read More