Hermits Peak Fire

Lightning sparked a few new small fires in the drought-stricken Southwest Monday but the thunderstorms brought welcome rain to the monster blaze that's been churning for a month in New Mexico and is now the state's largest in recorded history.

A controversial prescribed burn, which would eventually become the Hermits Peak Fire, has left Northern New Mexicans and officials wondering why it ever happened in the first place. The U.S. Forest Service, which lit the blaze, has yet to release all the information about the conditions under which the burn took place––citing a pending review.

The Hermits Peak fire began as a prescribed burn. Many officials, and evacuees at risk of losing everything, say the burn should never have happened. An ecologist says despite the risks prescribed burns are essential.

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.

President Joe Biden has declared the U.S.’s largest wildfire in New Mexico as a disaster.The declaration comes on the heels of firefighters successfully fighting back the flames from entering the city of Las Vegas––for now.

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

The Calf Canyon-Hermits Peak Fire in northeastern New Mexico remains the largest wildfire burning in the country. While forest officials say weaker winds Monday allowed firefighters to make progress on its containment, winds returned Tuesday afternoon and are forecast for Wednesday, as well. Source New Mexico’s Shaun Griswold was on the ground in Mora last week and has continued to follow the fire and the northern New Mexico residents impacted by it.

Projected to double in size in the coming days, the Calf Canyon/ Hermit’s Peak Fire continued to rage in northern New Mexico––threatening towns and villages and forcing thousands to flee. Now, erratic winds are pushing the flames closer to Mora and Las Vegas.