Fire

Los Alamos Firefighters Join Palisades Fire Effort

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By LAFD Wildland Fire Chief Kelly Sterna:

Good afternoon. Although NMDHSEM (New Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management) is providing all official updates on the New Mexico Strike Team, I thought I’d provide a more LAFD-centric update.

We arrived at the Palisades fire last Friday [Jan. 10], and I can speak for the crew to say that television does not fully capture the level of devastation that we have seen firsthand. Our first duty day was an eventful one as we provided structure protection for a subdivision of homes just west of Mandeville Canyon. We watched too many Read More

Several Los Alamos County Offices And Services To Close Monday Jan. 20 In Observance Of Martin Luther King Jr. Day

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Some Los Alamos County government offices and services will close or have modified hours Monday, Jan. 20 in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Courtesy/LAC

COUNTY News:

In observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, some Los Alamos County government offices and services will close or have modified hours Monday, Jan. 20. 

The County’s administrative offices, Atomic City Transit fixed bus routes and the Environmental Services Division will be closed.

The following facilities will have modified hours:

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Los Alamos Fire Chief Accepts Top Job At Brookings FD

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Fire Chief Troy Hughes

Staff Report

Los Alamos Fire Chief Troy Hughes has accepted the top position at the Brookings Fire Department in South Dakota. The move will allow him and his wife Jodi to be closer to their family.

Chief Hughes will bring 40 years of fire service experience with him to fill the boots of Chief Pete Bolzer who is set to retire following more than 45 years in emergency services.

Chief Hughes has served at the helm of the Los Alamos Fire Department since 2011. He began his career with the Grand Island Fire Department in Nebraska, where he spent nearly 27 years serving in all ranks, Read More

LAPD-LAFD Battle Of The Badges Benefits Special Olympics

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LAPD News:

On Friday, Feb. 7 from 5-7 p.m., Los Alamos Police Officers will battle Los Alamos Firefighters in a game of broomball. The community’s finest will suit up to play a charity event at Los Alamos County Ice Rink to benefit local Special Olympic athletes.

What is Broomball? Broomball is like ice hockey but without skates—what could go wrong!?

Opening Ceremonies will begin at 5:15 p.m. Honor Guard, Bagpipers and Special Olympic athletes will present the “Flame of Hope” torch to begin the Broomball game. LAPD and LAFD will compete for the coveted traveling trophy, all while providing entertainment Read More

Robinson: Protecting Homeowners & Keeping Insurers In NM

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By SHERRY ROBINSON
All She Wrote
© 2024 New Mexico News Services

When we look back at fires, California’s and New Mexico’s, we’ll see that the victims got burned twice – once during the event and again when they tried to rebuild and found they couldn’t get insurance. That’s if they had any to begin with. Many don’t.

This is not a rant about insurance companies. Two of my early jobs were with insurance companies. I spent years writing about them as a business writer, so I don’t expect them to act like charities.

New Mexico and California have property insurance problems driven by climate change. The disasters Read More

LAFD Extinguishes Fire At Los Alamos Cantina/Pyramid Cafe

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Scene outside the Los Alamos Cantina following a fire this morning at 157 Central Park Square. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com

Scene outside the Pyramid Cafe at 155 Central Park Square following a fire this morning in the kitchen it shares with Los Alamos Cantina at 157 Central Park Square. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com

Scene outside the Los Alamos Cantina following a fire this morning at 157 Central Park Square. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com

By CAROL A. CLARK
Los Alamos Daily Post
caclark@ladailypost.com

A fire broke out this morning in a kitchen shared by Los Alamos Cantina Read More

Fr. Glenn: Reminders

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By Fr. Glenn Jones:

As of this writing the California fires are still raging through the Los Angeles and surrounding areas—such a tragedy, as is the flooding a few months ago in North Carolina and other natural and man-made disasters throughout our nation and the world.

Certainly Los Alamosians—especially longer-term residents—can empathize with those suffering now in California, as well as can many here in New Mexico. Dante-esque scenes of the fires of not long ago around Los Alamos are common in photos of the time, as are those from other fires in the Jemez Mountains, around Ruidoso, Cimmaron Read More

Santa Fe National Forest Prescribed Fire Update

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Hill prescribed burn piles. Courtesy/Santa Fe National Forest

SFNF News:

SANTA FE — The recent snowfall provided an opportunity for Jemez Ranger District fire crews to complete the 7-acre Hill Prescribed Pile Burn Unit, located off Forest Road 376. Fire resources will now focus on patrolling and monitoring this unit.

Today, Jemez Ranger District fire managers canceled the San Diego Egress Prescribed Pile Burn Unit scheduled for January 9 due to insufficient snowpack and forecast weather conditions.

Moving forward, fire managers will continue to look for ideal weather conditions to conduct Read More

Heinrich Announces Nearly $7 Million To New Mexico For Wildfire Mitigation, Water Reliability

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U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich

U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Jan. 8, U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, announced a $6.95 million investment from the Infrastructure Law he passed for two projects aimed at reducing the risk of severe wildfires by enhancing forest and watershed health, and supporting agricultural production while reducing water losses in New Mexico.

“Across the West, growers are feeling the undeniable strain of less predictable rainfall and extended droughts, while our communities are facing the Read More

Los Alamos Fire Dept. Helps Homeowners Mitigate Risk

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LAFD Wildland Fire Chief Kelly Sterna speaks with homeowners Ruth and Jim Doyle as he prepares to conduct a free wildland fire home assessment on the exterior of their residence last fall on North Mesa. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

LAFD Wildland Fire Chief Kelly Sterna displays valuation criteria used during wildland fire home assessments. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

By CAROL A. CLARK
Los Alamos Daily Post
caclark@ladailypost.com

As insurance companies across New Mexico are raising premiums, canceling or declining to renew coverage for homes in wildfire-prone

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