Fire

SOS: Primary Election Voting Details For Fire Evacuees

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From the Office of the Secretary of State:

Voters affected by the fires may cast an absentee ballot if they are unable to vote in person in their county during Early Voting or on Election Day.

For some displaced voters, voting by mail with an absentee ballot may be your only way to participate in the 2022 Primary Election.

Multiple ways to obtain and cast an absentee ballot:

  • Visit NMVOTE.ORG to request an absentee ballot and have it sent to wherever you are residing, even if you are currently at an evacuation center or in another state.
  • Contact your County Clerk to request an absentee ballot.
  • Dropping
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Department Of Cultural Affairs To Offer Free Admission For New Mexicans Affected By Fires

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Courtesy/NMDCA

NMDCA News:

SANTA FE — The New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs (NMDCA) is offering free admission to each of the agency’s 15 museums and historic sites for residents impacted by the wildfires burning in the state as well as first responders and their families.

Through the end of June, residents of Colfax, Mora, San Miguel, Valencia and Lincoln counties will be permitted to visit every NMDCA facility free of charge simply by presenting proof of residency (valid ID, etc.).

First responders involved with emergency work (firefighters, police, medical personnel, national Read More

Chevron Gives $250K Donation To New Mexico Wildfire Relief Efforts

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CHEVRON News:

SAN RAMON, Calif. — Chevron Corporation (NYSE: CVX) Tuesday announced a contribution of $250,000 from the Chevron Global Community Fund to the All Together NM Fund and Taos Community Foundation to support relief efforts for wildfires in New Mexico.

“Chevron is committed to supporting first responders, local governments, and non-profit organizations as they fight to contain fires across northern New Mexico,” said Mark Urfer, manager of Chevron’s Questa Site in Questa, N.M, which has employees, contractors, and community partners affected by the situation. “The Read More

Cerro Pelado Fire Update: Zero Growth, 85% Containment

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Courtesy/USDA Forest Service

USDA Forest Service News:

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

Cooler temperatures will remain over the fire area for another day with highs around 65-70 degrees. Relative humidity will decrease with minimum values around 11-16 percent by the afternoon. Winds will be light in the morning, 3-8mph building to 9-13mph with gusts up to 20mph.

There is a 15 percent chance of thunderstorms with rain overnight. Fire behavior was minimal Sunday and today we will see similar conditions.  Read More

Rotary Speaker: LAFD Acting Deputy Chief Ben Stone

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Acting Deputy Chief Ben Stone refers to a map of the Cerro Pelado Fire during his May 10 presentation to the Rotary Club of Los Alamos at Cottonwood on the Greens. Photo by Linda Hull

By LINDA HULL
Vice President
Rotary Club of Los Alamos

Los Alamos Fire Department Acting Deputy Chief Ben Stone, graciously took time from his hurried schedule to speak with Rotarians May 10, just as the Cerro Pelado Fire reached approximately 75 percent containment after burning more than 45,000 acres of woodland in the Jemez Mountains southwest of Los Alamos.

During his presentation, Stone displayed a map of the fire Read More

NMDWS: Disaster Unemployment Assistance For Wildfires

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NMDWS News:

ALBUQUERQUE — At the request of Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, President Biden has authorized federal disaster aid for the State of New Mexico making Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) available to New Mexicans whose employment or self-employment was lost or interrupted as a direct result of the 2022 Wildfires.

New Mexicans can now apply for DUA at various evacuation shelters, at any Workforce Connection Center across the state, or by calling the Unemployment Insurance Operations Center at 1.877.664.6984, 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

The deadline to apply Read More

BAER Team Begins Assessment Of Cerro Pelado Fire

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SFNF News:

The Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF) has established a Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) team to begin the assessment of National Forest System (NFS) lands impacted by the Cerro Pelado Fire, south of the Nacimiento Mountains and west of the Bandelier National Monument areas.

After a large wildfire, special actions may be necessary to provide for public and community safety and protect critical natural and cultural resources from post-fire events like soil erosion and flooding.

The BAER program uses ground and aerial surveys, satellite imagery and computer models to evaluate Read More

Rep. Leger Fernández Responds To U.S. Forest Service Decision To Pause Prescribed Fire Operations

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STATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández released the following statement after the U.S. Forest Service’s decision to pause prescribed operations and conduct a 90-day review of protocols: 

“In letters and phone calls, I have pushed the USFS and Chief Forester Moore to investigate the (Las Dispensas) prescribed burn fire that later became the Hermit’s Peak wildfire to examine their protocols. This announcement to pause prescribed burns this fire season is a good first step. We don’t want any other communities to suffer the fate of those in New Mexico.”

Rep. Leger Fernández Read More

DFA Offers Housing Assistance To Renters Whose Housing Was Destroyed By The 2022 Wildfire Season Through Rental Assistance Program

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DFA News:

SANTA FE — Renters displaced by wildfires may be able to receive aid through the New Mexico Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP).

ERAP allows New Mexico renters to receive aid for current, temporary, or new rental housing in New Mexico. 

 

ERAP may be available for those affected by wildfires who:

  • Are New Mexico renters whose rental unit was destroyed by a 2022 wildfire; and
  • The applicant or household makes under 80% of the average median income for each respective county.

Potential assistance includes:

  • Temporary hotel/motel cost at a New Mexico establishment; and
  • Three
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Luján, Padilla Spearhead Bill To Strengthen Federal Wildfire Science During Historic Wildfire Season

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U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján

U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) led a coalition of Senators  Thursday in introducing the National Wildland Fire Risk Reduction Program Act, a comprehensive science authorization bill that will identify and invest in research and development (R&D), set up warning and forecast systems, develop observation and sensing technologies, and standardize data collection efforts to improve the nation’s preparedness, resilience, and response to wildfires.

Senators cosponsoring the bill include Read More