Numerous large wildfires in New Mexico
6/3/2022 12:00:00 AM
CATEGORIES:
Fire
AFFECTED AREAS:
New Mexico
Lincoln County, NM
Mora County, NM
San Miguel County, NM
Start Date: 4/6/2022
- End Date: 6/1/2022
Unusually dry, warm, windy weather in New Mexico amid overgrown, drought-stricken forests has been conducive to wildfires this spring with more than 600,000 acres up in smoke.
The biggest and most destructive fire is the Hermits Peak Calf Canyon fire, which began nearly two months ago, and has charred 315,000 acres near Las Vegas. Two separate prescribed burns escaped containment and merged to become this megafire. Strong winds up to 80 miles an hour drove the flames and prevented firefighting planes and helicopters from aiding in the fight. This conflagration is the largest in the U.S. and the largest ever recorded in New Mexico.
The Black fire in Gila National Forest grew rapidly mid-May and became the second largest fire burning in New Mexico.
The New York Times, June 1, 2022
New Mexico has at least ten large fires burning. In the north are the Hermits Peak fire that has charred 65,000 acres and the nearby Cooks Peak Fire that burned nearly 56,000 acres. Both blazes are less than 50% contained.
The McBride Fire, which consumed over 6,000 acres and more than 200 homes in the Ruidoso area, was still smoldering in the Lincoln National Forest in Lincoln County.
Carlsbad Current Argus (N.M.), April 29, 2022
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