Largest fire in New Mexico history caused by planned burns, federal review finds
Elevated, critical fire weather remains across Southwest
Elevated and critical fire weather remains across the Southwest. Now, the U.S. Fire Service is pausing prescribed burns as the largest fire in New Mexico state history is linked backed to a planned burn. Jacob Nuttall, a regional fire director for the Forest Service, and Rich Naden, a fire weather meteorologist, join FOX Weather.
SANTA FE, N.M. - The largest fire in New Mexico history was caused by a federal pile burn holdover, fire investigators with the U.S. Forest Service said.
A 90-day pause on all prescribed burns on National Forest System lands is now in effect, a decision the agency announced on Friday.
The Calf Canyon Fire on the Pecos/Las Vegas Ranger District of the Santa Fe National Forest was caused by a sleeper fire from January that remained dormant under the surface through three winter snow events before reemerging in April.
The fire then merged with the Hermits Peak Fire which was also caused by an escaped prescribed burn. The fires are now 48% contained.
(FOX Weather)
The Calf Canyon/Hermits Peak Fire has burned more than 313,000 acres and fire suppression costs to date exceed $132 million. Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham said the U.S. Forest Service will now pay for 100% of those costs, which increase by around $5 million every day.
"The pain and suffering of New Mexicans caused by the actions of the U.S. Forest Service – an agency that is intended to be a steward of our lands – is unfathomable," Grisham said. "I appreciate the U.S. Forest Service assuming responsibility for the federal actions that caused this terrible crisis."
INCREASED FIRE THREAT FOR PARTS OF PLAINS, SOUTHWEST TO CONTINUE INTO SUMMER
On April 9, smoke was reported from the vicinity of the Gallinas Canyon Wildland Urban Interface pile burn, which had concluded on January 29, and crews responded.
Crews lined the 1.5-acre Calf Canyon Fire and continued to monitor the fire over the next couple of days to ensure there were no signs of heat or flames near the edge.
Ten days later, on April 19, the Calf Canyon Fire reignited and escaped containment lines. A wind event on April 22 caused significant fire spread, and the Calf Canyon Fire merged with the Hermits Peak Fire, which was caused by an escaped prescribed burn.
ROCIADA, NM- MAY 13: A road block is seen on Friday May 13, 2022 in Rociada, NM. The Calf Canyon and Hermits Peak fires have been burning in the region. The Hermits Peak fire started as a prescribed burn. (Photo by Matt McClain/The Washington Post vi
"The Santa Fe National Forest is 100% focused on suppressing these fires with the support of the Type 1 incident management teams who are fully prepared to manage complex, all-risk situations," Santa Fe National Forest Supervisor Debbie Cress said. "Our commitment is to manage the public lands entrusted to us by improving the forest’s resilience to the many stressors they are facing, including larger, hotter wildfires, historic levels of drought, rising temperatures, and insects and disease."
The Forest Service said the temporary pause of prescribed fires will help them understand what happened in relation to recent prescribed fire escapes in New Mexico and elsewhere.