Fire

SFNF Implements Closure Order In Jemez Ranger District

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SFNF News:

SANTA FE — The Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF) has issued a temporary area and road closure order (03-10-03-24-10) for the La Cueva picnic site in the Jemez Ranger District to protect the public’s health and safety during construction activities.

While the closure order is in place crews will conduct a pavement preservation project funded by the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA).

This order shall is in effect through 12 a.m. Aug. 4, unless rescinded.

The closure area includes all NFS lands within the La Cueva Picnic Site – specifically all areas within 150 feet of both sides Read More

Las Vegas Claims Office Closed Today For Maintenance

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FEMA News:

SANTA FE — The Las Vegas FEMA Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Claims Office will be closed Wednesday, July 17 for maintenance. We will announce when the office is re-opened for normal business hours.

Community members are welcome to visit our other Claims Office locations in Mora and Santa Fe and are encouraged to call the helpline at 505.995.7133 from 7:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. MT, Monday – Thursday. Claimants can also set up an alternative location to meet with their Navigators.

For Claims Office locations/hours and more info, visit: https://www.fema.gov/disaster/current/hermits-peak/contact-us Read More

LANL: Future Climate Change Will Impact Opportunities For Prescribed Fires

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A hotshot from Oregon works on the Las Conchas Fire in New Mexico. Courtesy/Kristen Honig, USFS

LANL News:

Severe wildfires increase with a decrease in prescribed burns—but new research shows that in some places across the United States there may be fewer opportunities to safely burn in the future.

“Prescribed fires are an important management tool for fuel loads, fire risk, and ecosystem health,” said Los Alamos Earth and Environmental Sciences Division Scientist Alex Jonko, the corresponding author of a new paper in npj Climate and Atmospheric Science about climate projections that are Read More

New Mexico Receives Additional Federal Assistance For Victims Following South Fork And Salt Wildfires And Floods

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STATE News:

SANTA FE — July 12, President Joe Biden authorized an amendment to the major disaster declaration for the state of New Mexico, providing additional disaster assistance in response to the South Fork Fire, Salt Fire, and subsequent, continuous, flooding that began June 17, 2024.

Under the President’s major disaster declaration issued for the state June 20, federal funding was made available to help individuals, households, and businesses. Public assistance, including debris removal (Categories A and B), was also provided for Lincoln and Otero counties, including the Mescalero Read More

Wildfire Activity Increases In Santa Fe National Forest

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Thompson Peak Fire ignited Thursday west of N.M. 63, south of Thompson Peak. Courtesy/SFNF

SFNF News:

SANTA FE—Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF) fire managers are managing wildfires in the Coyote, Jemez and Pecos/Las Vegas Ranger Districts.

“What is occurring recently is pretty much the summer monsoonal pattern,” said Meteorologist Richard Naden of the Southwest Coordination Center. “But it has been slightly drier the past few days with less wetting rainfall on the Santa Fe National Forest. Wetting rainfall activity should pick up dramatically by the middle to end of next week. We will still Read More

Santa Fe National Forest Actively Suppressing Alamo Springs Wildfire In Jemez Ranger District

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Alamos Springs Wildfire underway in the Jemez Ranger District. Courtesy/SFNN

SFNF News:

SANTA FE — Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF) fire managers were notified of a new wildfire start this morning, named the Alamo Springs Wildfire in the Jemez Ranger District, west of N.M. 4 and north of Rincon Fishing Site on Forest Service land.

The wildfire is less than an acre (.36) and, although cause is undetermined, lightning was detected in the area Wednesday night.

Smoke may be visible from N.M. 4 and the management strategy is full suppression. The wildfire has low spread potential, creeping and smoldering Read More

Chevron Commits $100K To New Mexico Wildfire Relief & Recovery

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CHEVRON News:

MIDLAND, Texas — Chevron U.S.A. Inc. has announced a donation of $100,000 to support relief and recovery efforts in response to the South Fork Fire and the Salt Fire near the Village of Ruidoso and the Mescalero Apache Reservation in south-central New Mexico.

“Through our legacy companies, Chevron has been a proud community partner in New Mexico for more than 100 years,” said Darrell Carriger, manager for Chevron’s Delaware Basin operations in New Mexico. “Chevron is committed to supporting first responders, tribal and local governments, and non-profit organizations Read More

U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich’s Bill To Support Local Firefighters And Emergency Responders Signed Into Law

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SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, a bill backed by U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) to extend federal programs that help local fire departments address staffing needs, purchase equipment, develop fire training and education programs, and improve emergency medical services, was signed into law by President Joe Biden.

The Fire Grants and Safety Act reauthorizes two federal grant programs at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which have provided over $15.3 million to local fire departments in New Mexico. Those programs were set to expire this year but are now reauthorized Read More

Post Fire Flood Update For Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon

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USDA News:

  • Resource Guide for week of July 8, 2024

Weather Outlook:

Much cooler and damp conditions expected over the burned area Monday. Cooler temperatures will limit chances for high rainfall rates over the burned area. Heavier rainfall looks to remain west of the burned area this afternoon and early evening. Warmer temperatures return Tuesday resulting in storms with higher rainfall rates. Storms will move to the south with high pressure centered west of the state over the Great Basin. Storm coverage peaks on Wednesday due to some enhancement from an upper level disturbance moving south Read More

GAO Report Following Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fires Reveals Critical Holes In Prescribed Burn Protocols 

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From the Office of U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández:

          • Leger Fernández Outlines Forest Service Reforms Necessary to Prevent Future Tragedies

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández (NM-03) announced the release of a comprehensive report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) following an investigation into the U.S. Forest Service’s prescribed burn protocols.

This investigation, which Rep. Leger Fernández secured in June 2022, comes two years in the wake of the devastating Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire in northern New Mexico, the largest and most destructive Read More