Fire

A fire broke out Monday night at the homeless encampment next to Albuquerque’s Quirky Used Books, which has been under scrutiny recently after a shooting death at the location in November. No one was hurt, according to fire officials, but some of the tents were destroyed along with personal belongings before the fire was put out.

Flames that engulfed recycled plastic at the Atkore manufacturing facility in Albuquerque Sunday, growing into a three-alarm fire, have now been completely extinguished. The fire department also said fewer residents were exposed to the toxic smoke than initially feared.

The location and proximity of homes destroyed in the Marshall Fire highlight the importance of fire mitigation efforts while building – and the possible long-term saving in planning for fire.

A paper out of the University of Utah shows that plume heights are increasing more than 300 feet every year in mountain ranges in Utah, Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona.

The Western Fire Chiefs Association launched an interactive, mobile-friendly map this week to provide the latest information on wildfires across the region.

As wildfires continue to range across the state and folks continue to be evacuated from their homes, everything can be overwhelming. That’s especially true for kids facing the loss of a home and the uncertainty of what comes next. At one evacuation site, counselors are trying to help kids deal with trauma and stress.

As the Calf Canyon-Hermits Peak fire continues to ravage northeastern New Mexico, residents are feeling frustrated with the federal government. They said a reckless prescribed burn, lack of communication, and late aid are the root of the problem.

The KUNM News Department is continuing to update these lists with resources related to the fires in NM, including the Calf Canyon/Hermits Peak

Federal wildland fire forecasters have issued their summer outlook with a series of maps, showing ominous splotches of red that indicate above-normal fire potential expanding over much of the Mountain West.

The Southwest’s fire season is lasting longer and getting worse, according to researchers. Fire officials do have a trick up their sleeve: prescribed or planned burns. The Los Alamos National Laboratory is creating a tool that uses physics and data modeling to predict how a prescribed burn might behave before it’s lit. But, in hot, dry weather it’s harder to keep them under control.