SANTA FE, N.M. — In a recent report, the U.S. Forest Service admitted that their own prescribed burn led to a massive wildfire in 2022 that came dangerously close to reaching Los Alamos, New Mexico. The Cerro Pelado fire, fueled by dry and windy conditions, spread across over 60 square miles of land and approached just a few miles away from the city and its national security lab. As a precautionary measure, schools closed and evacuation preparations were made, but fortunately, the flames eventually died down.
Upon investigation, it was found that the wildfire originated from a controlled burn of forest debris initiated by the Forest Service. The fire had smoldered unnoticed beneath wet snow for months, showing no signs of smoke or heat during that time, explained Southwestern Regional Forester Michiko Martin.
Unsurprisingly, this revelation has generated strong criticism against the Forest Service from political leaders in New Mexico. Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham expressed her outrage, holding the agency accountable for the destruction caused by their negligence. Grisham emphasized concerns about prescribed burns as a means of clearing forest debris, particularly in light of the increasingly hot and dry weather experienced in recent years.
It is worth noting that the federal government has previously acknowledged responsibility for starting the largest wildfire in New Mexico’s history. This devastating blaze ravaged over 530 square miles of the Rocky Mountain foothills east of Santa Fe, resulting in the loss of homes and livelihoods.
Prescribed Burns: Adapting to Changing Conditions
The Forest Service underwent a thorough review of procedures and policies, leading to a 90-day moratorium on prescribed burn operations. Forest Service Chief Randy Moore emphasized the importance of continuous learning and adaptation to evolving circumstances during the review, as revealed in discussions with New Mexico lawmakers.
To enhance monitoring efforts, firefighters now employ handheld thermal devices and drones equipped with heat detection capabilities, ensuring better control over pile burns.
Unfortunately, past incidents illustrate the consequences of prescribed burns escaping control. The 2000 Cerro Grande Fire serves as a prominent example, ravaging residential areas of Los Alamos and spreading across 12 square miles of the laboratory premises. Astonishingly, this fire consumed over 230 homes and 45 structures. In 2011, another wildfire burned the fringes of the lab, highlighting the challenges faced by officials.
In the spring of 2022, Arizona and New Mexico witnessed devastating wildfires fueled by ferocious winds, extreme drought, and high temperatures. Smoke blanketed the region as a grim reminder of the destructive power of these natural disasters.
U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich stressed the need for agility in investigations and decision-making within the Forest Service. Acknowledging the vulnerability of forests to catastrophic wildfires due to the warming climate, he urged prompt and decisive action from the agency. Heinrich underlined that taking nearly a year to make findings on the Cerro Pelado Fire public would hinder efforts to address this pressing reality.
