Planned burn by the USFS is the reason behind the largest wildfire in New Mexico (Representative image)|Gila National Forest - New Mexico|CC BY-SA 2.0
Federal investigators announced that the two largest wildfires in New Mexico occurred due to planned burns set by the US Forest Service (USFS) as preventive measures.
How did it happen?
According to the investigators, US forest officials burned a woodpile in January. On April 19, the fire reignited from the same pile and grew like a wildfire—the Calf Canyon fire—due to drought and hot climatic conditions.
Escaping containment lines, on April 22, the Calf Canyon fire merged with the Hermits Peak fire, which was caused by an escaped prescribed burn.
New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham said, “The pain and suffering of New Mexicans caused by the actions of the US Forest Service – an agency that is intended to be a steward of our lands – is unfathomable.”
Why is it significant?
The New Mexico wildfire has destroyed at least 330 homes, watersheds and forests used by the Native American communities for centuries.
Firefighting costs have already exceeded $132 million, rising by $5 million a day.
