Fire

Letter To The Editor: Wildfire Restrictions

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MIKE PRIME
Los Alamos

A recent journal article is very relevant to the discussion on fire-related restrictions:

Benefield and Chen, 2022. Examining the influence of outdoor recreation on anthropogenic wildfire regime of the southern Rocky Mountains, Natural Hazards. (Copy provided to me by the lead author along with some discussion and clarification).

Their detailed analysis of fire records show that man-made forest fires occur predominantly near regions of overnight camping, presumably from campfires, and near trails used by motor vehicles. A fair conclusion is that restricting

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Rep. Leger Fernández Calls For Independent Federal Investigation Into USFS Prescribed Burns

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U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández

STATE News:

SANTA FE — U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández requested that the U.S. Government Accountability (GAO) investigates the process that the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) uses to conduct prescribed burns.

The Congresswoman requested that GAO provide recommendations to the USFS and Congress to reduce wildfire risk associated with prescribed burns. Today’s request comes after the USFS admitted to causing both the Calf Canyon and Hermit’s Peak Wildfires. The letter requests answers to specific questions, including ways to improve community input and Read More

Human Services Department Delivers Briefing On Disaster Food Benefits For Residents Affected By New Mexico Wildfires

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HSD News:

SANTA FE — The New Mexico Human Services Department (HSD) will present an update regarding Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP) food benefits for residents impacted by the Big Hole, Calf Canyon and Hermit’s Peak, Cooks Peak and McBride fires at 1 p.m. Monday, June 6.

This event will be streamed live on the New Mexico Human Services Department Facebook page. 

This also will be streamed with a Spanish language interpreter on Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s YouTube page. Read More

All Together NM Fund Accepting Applications For Wildfire Relief Funding

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LACF News:

The All Together NM Fund will award emergency grants to nonprofit organizations providing relief to New Mexico communities affected by the 2022 wildfires. New Mexico nonprofits and federally-recognized tribes are encouraged to apply today.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and all funding will be for core operating support. In general, grants will be up to $5,000. The application period opened June 1, 2022.

Learn more and apply today: https://www.alltogethernm.org/apply 

The All Together NM Fund was established in 2020 by the New Mexico Coalition of Community Read More

Bandelier National Monument Thanks Brave Souls Who Fought Cerro Pelado Fire

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A firefighter on the job during the Cerro Pelado Fire. Courtesy/Bandelier National Monument

From Bandelier National Monument:

A huge shout out and big thank you to the those who worked on the Cerro Pelado Fire!

More than 1,800 firefighters and fire personnel from more than six federal agencies from across the country as well as city, county and state agencies from more than 25 states dedicated their time and energy to extinguishing the Cerro Pelado Wildfire that started April 22.

A special thanks to Los Alamos National Laboratory for its contributions and fuel reduction along N.M. 4.

The fire, Read More

State Bar Announces Free Legal Help Available For New Mexico Wildfires Survivors

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SBNM News:

The State Bar of New Mexico (SBNM) announces a free legal help hotline  available beginning June 6, for New Mexico Wildfires survivors.

The hotline is available to connect survivors to free legal services in qualifying counties who cannot afford an attorney. Survivors may call 888.985.5141.

Hotline callers may get help with legal issues like:

  • FEMA and SBA financial benefits;
  • Home repair contracts and property insurance claims;
  • Re-doing wills and other important legal documents destroyed in the disaster;
  • Price gouging, scams or identity theft;
  • Landlord or tenant problems,
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Sen. Luján Reviews Wildfire Recovery With Cerro Pelado Fire Rocky Mountain IMT 3 And LANL Emergency Management

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Luján meets with the Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team 3 at the Cerro Pelado Fire. Courtesy photo

Luján meets with LANL Director Thom Mason and the LANL Emergency Management Team. Courtesy photo

From the Office of U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján:

Wednesday, U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) met with the Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team 3 at the Cerro Pelado Fire and the Los Alamos National Lab (LANL) Emergency Management Team to discuss fire suppression tactics and burned area recovery efforts for New Mexicans.

The Senator met with these experts as part of his ongoing support for their work Read More

New Mexico Ranks 10th In Wildfire Preparedness

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QuoteWizard News:

New Mexico is now more prepared for wildfires than it was in 2021. By looking at fire departments, available water supply, and emergency communications, ISO ratings measure how prepared a community is to fight fires. 

QuoteWizard’s team of analysts found that New Mexico’s ISO ratings have gone up, and even a small change can have a big impact on how much you pay for home insurance.

The full report on wildfire preparedness in each state can be found here. Read More

Final Update On Cerro Pelado Fire From Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team  3

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USDA Forest Service News:

Today will be the final update from Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team  3.

Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team Three will be transitioning management of the Cerro Pelado Fire at 6 p.m. today to the Northern New Mexico Incident Management Team 3, a Type 3 team. The team would like to thank the community for all the support it has shown our team and the firefighters while we were assigned to this fire. 

The weather today will be a little cooler than it has been. Temperatures will be in the 60-75 degree range with relative humidity in the teens. Winds will increase as Read More

Cerro Pelado Fire Update: Monday Morning May 30, 2022

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USDA Forest Service News:

The issued the following update this morning on the Cerro Pelado Fire burning in the Jemez Mountains.

A red flag warning remains over the fire area today due to high winds and relative humidity in the single digits. With the high winds forecast today, expect to see increased smoke within the fire perimeter. 

Crews will continue to patrol the perimeter of the fire on the northwest side, including the Peralta Canyon area, and continue to mop up deep into the interior of the fire perimeter when it’s safe to do so. Heavy equipment continues suppression repair on the west side Read More