Fire

Governor Condemns Missteps Identified By Forest Service Review Of Prescribed Burn That Caused Hermits Peak Fire

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From the Office of the Governor:
SANTA FE – Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham issued a statement today following the release of the U.S. Forest Service review of the April 6, 2022 prescribed burn that resulted in the Hermits Peak Fire, the largest fire in the state’s history.
“I am deeply frustrated by the numerous missteps within the Las Dispensas burn identified by this review. It is very difficult to understand how a plan crafted several years ago could be repeatedly re-approved without adjustments or considerations for updated drought conditions, as well as how that plan could be put into place
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Heinrich Welcomes Announcement By Biden-Harris Administration To Increase Pay For Wildland Firefighters

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U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich

U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) released the following statement welcoming an announcement by the Biden-Harris Administration to increase pay for wildland firefighters.

The announcement today includes unprecedented actions Sen. Heinrich has advocated for on behalf of the wildland firefighter workforce that is funded by $600 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

“For months, I’ve been pushing to implement a pay raise and more support for our wildland firefighter workforce. These brave men and women are battling Read More

NM Congressional Democrats Announce Federal Government Will Fully Cover Emergency Watershed Program In Wake Of Historic Wildfires

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Congressional News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and U.S. Representatives Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.) and Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.) are welcoming an announcement that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will cover 100 percent of the costs through the Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Program for debris removal and other measures to address watershed impairments in designated areas of New Mexico impacted by recent wildfires.

EWP is a recovery effort aimed at relieving imminent hazards to life and property caused Read More

Effective Immediately: Los Alamos County Trails Are Open!

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COUNTY News:

With the increase in rain activity in the region, Los Alamos County will move to Stage 2 Fire Restrictions effective immediately. A revised Fire Marshal’s Order to reflect these changes will be issued Tuesday, June 21, 2022.

According to Los Alamos Fire Department (LAFD) officials, this action opens access to all County trails, and allows outdoor firing range activity with safety measures in place, although some “trail closure” signage may not yet be removed.

Visit the websites of the Santa Fe National Forest and Los Alamos National Laboratory to find information on the status Read More

BLM Increases Fire Restrictions In Santa Fe County … Prohibiting Recreational Shooting

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BLM News:

TAOS — The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is updating Fire Prevention Order # NMF00000-22-01 to include a temporary prohibition of recreational shooting on BLM-managed lands within Santa Fe County.

The restriction is necessary due to increased fire danger and prolonged drought and will be effective beginning today, June 17 to July 1, 2022. Shooting for licensed hunting purposes is still allowed.

Additionally, the following restrictions outlined in an May 10 press release remain in effect:

  • Building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire, campfire, charcoal, coal, or wood
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Hermit Creek/Calf Canyon Fire Plume Viewed From Trinity

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View Tuesday from Trinity Drive of the smoke plume filling the sky from the Hermit Creek/Calf Canyon Fire that as of Wednesday had consumed 335,069 acres and was 70 percent contained. The Hermits Peak Fire ignited April 6 from a prescribed burn and the Calf Canyon Fire began April 19 and was caused by a holdover fire from a prescribed pile burn. The two fires eventually merged and continue to burn near Gallinas Canyon. Photo by Dave Lannen Read More

Lest We Forget Hermit Creek/Calf Canyon Fire

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View at 3:30 p.m. today from Los Alamos of the smoke plume filling the sky from the Hermit Creek/Calf Canyon Fire that has consumed 325,340 acres and is 70 percent contained. The Hermits Peak Fire ignited April 6 from a prescribed burn and the Calf Canyon Fire began April 19 and was a holdover fire from a prescribed pile burn. The two fires eventually merged and continue to burn near Gallinas Canyon. Photo by Ann Greene Read More

Chamber Delivers Thank You Banner To Chief Hughes

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Earlier today Ryn Herrmann and Sam McRae of the Los Alamos Chamber delivered a ‘Thank You’ banner to Los Alamos County Fire Chief Troy Hughes. The banner hung on the Diamond Drive overpass immediately after the Cerro Pelado Fire, then was at Los Alamos ChamberFest for the community to sign. Also delivered were thank you cards and posters from local businesses. Here Herrmann shows Chief Hughes an article of appreciation to LAFD published recently in the Los Alamos Daily Post. ‘Thank you Los Alamos Firefighters! The community appreciates all you do!’ Courtesy/Chamber

The banner that was hanging Read More

Luján Calls For Federal Accountability And Partnership Ahead Of POTUS Visit To New Mexico

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By U.S. SEN. BEN RAY LUJAN (D-N.M.)

“In early May, my brother Jerome and I discussed the seasonal chores we needed to do on our family farm in Nambé. He wanted to do a controlled burn of our acequia – a standard practice in early summer to clear acequias of debris.

“Better safe than sorry, Jerome made a quick call to the Pojoaque Valley Fire Department to confirm the conditions were right for a safe burn. The answer he got was simple: No. It’s a red flag day. 

“That same week, the Hermits Peak fire – which has devastated more than 318,000 acres – broke out just north of Las Vegas. This fire Read More