Latest news with #GeorgeDucker
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Two small NM fires erupt Sunday, including one in Grants neighborhood that burned 14 structures
Members of the Mimbres wildland firefighting team dig fire line during a wildfire in 2024. (Photo Courtesy NM Forestry) Two small wildfires prompted evacuations and burned a few structures in the Grants and Socorro areas Sunday, though a state Forestry spokesperson said Monday that crews were making progress. Witnesses spotted the Otero Fire in the bosque east of Socorro and the Alamo Fire in a neighborhood in Grants on Sunday evening. The Grants Fire is fully contained at between 3 and 5 acres, said Forestry spokesperson George Ducker. Despite progress overnight in Socorro, where crews built a fire line across the northern edge of the 360-acre fire, the Otero Fire is 0% contained, Ducker said. The causes of both fires remains under investigation, Ducker said, though they occurred amid high winds and ongoing drought across the state. The National Interagency Fire Center earlier this month warned that most of the state would experience above-normal wildfire risk, and that the risk would spread to the western two-thirds of the state as May approaches. A new forecast is expected in the next few days. High winds around 7 p.m. pushed the Alamo Fire on the east side Grants into structures, burning eight structures and six outbuildings and prompting evacuations. Residents are being allowed to return this morning, Ducker said, and crews will focus on watching for hotspots and dealing with the burned structures, now that the fire is fully contained. In the Socorro-area fire, crews detected active wildfire burning on the south end of the perimeter. They plan today to hold and increase containment lines. No structures are threatened in that fire, and no evacuation orders are in effect.
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Las Vegas, N.M., residents, businesses grapple with PNM's public safety power shutoff
LAS VEGAS, N.M. — The beam of a heavy-duty DeWalt flashlight swept across the shelves of the Big R store as Michael Velarde searched for a Sharpie marker to buy. Otherwise, the store was dark Thursday, even at 2:30 p.m. Public Service Company of New Mexico had cut the power to the store as part of a public safety outage that affected some 2,300 of its customers in the western area of Las Vegas, N.M., as high winds began blowing through Northern New Mexico. Still, the store remained open and customers trickled in, met by employees wearing headlamps. Initiated at 11:30 a.m., the PNM shutoff was necessary, the electric utility said, to reduce the risk of fire danger amid high winds. Gusts caused other power outages around the state and drove a brushfire that had ignited Thursday afternoon on Bureau of Indian Affairs land west of Bosque Farms. George Ducker of the New Mexico Forestry Division sent a news release Thursday evening about the fast-moving Rio Grande Fire, which had burned several structures and led to evacuations. The fire was estimated at about 150 acres but was growing in red-flag conditions. 'This is becoming the norm' The Las Vegas outage marked PNM's first planned power shutoff in wildfire weather following previous warnings of outages in Santa Fe, the East Mountains near Albuquerque and other areas of the state during a dry spring with days of heavy gusts. 041725_MS_Las Vegas Power_003.JPG Traffic waits a temporary stop sign at the intersection of Mills Avenue and Eighth Street in Las Vegas during a public safety power shutoff Thursday. "It's in response to fire danger throughout the West … and the need to do our part to prevent these catastrophes," said Jeff Buell, a spokesperson for PNM, the largest electric utility in the state. "It is a last-resort step that we take after pretty agonizing deliberations." He estimated power would be restored as early as 3 a.m. Friday. But PNM said in a morning news release customers in the outage area should expect it "to last overnight and up to 48 hours depending on fire conditions and potential damage caused to the system by high winds." The shutoff comes as some electric utilities in Western states, such as California, have at times resorted to enacting blackouts in times when fire risk is high. New Mexico is another state that has seen devastating and costly wildfires in recent years. The decision to shut off the power is one that promises to draw the ire of residents concerned about food in refrigerators souring, among other things, while waiting for service to be restored. But Las Vegas residents perhaps have a unique understanding of fire risk. The Hermit's Peak/Calf Canyon Fire, the worst blaze in New Mexico's recorded history, started in 2022 due to a pair of botched federal prescribed burns, leaving thousands of people displaced while destroying hundreds of homes. "I've never heard of that before in my entire life, but I understand their concern," Velarde said of PNM's power shutdown. "They don't want the city to catch fire again." The National Weather Service in Albuquerque had warned of extreme fire conditions Thursday due to a combination of prolonged and increasing drought across the state, high temperatures and heavy wind gusts — part of a pattern of extreme conditions as global climate change intensifies. Drought map According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, more than 98% of New Mexico is now in some level of drought, with the severity of conditions inching upward. Over 80% of the state is in at least severe drought and a third in extreme drought, including northern Santa Fe County, half of Rio Arriba County and swaths of Taos and Sandoval counties, as well as a large area of southwestern New Mexico. Las Vegas Mayor David Romero noted this is becoming a reality in parts of the Southwest where wildfire concerns run high. It's something the city needs to prepare for, he said. "In general, I think this is something, moving forward, the city and also the community are going to have to be prepared for things like this," Romero said. "Nationwide and here within the state, this is becoming the norm within power companies to prevent fires and fires in general." Windy day in Las Vegas Heavy gusts were whipping around signposts as people walked through a business district of the San Miguel County town with their heads lowered. With dust in the air impacting visibility outside of town, Romero said Thursday marked a very strong wind event. "Of course, it's an inconvenience. That's for sure," Romero said. "But you have to understand: Some of these measures that they're taking, they're precautionary, and we did experience the fires." Velarde said he felt the utility's decision to shut off power was something of a double-edged sword for residents and businesses in Las Vegas. "They are taking precautionary measures," he said. "But what about the people that are going to lose all their food? That's a travesty, especially if you are low-income." At the corner of Mills and Eighth streets, traffic lights were dark as drivers approached with uncertainty. Nearby, the doors of a Dollar General were closed; a handmade sign gave the reason: Power outage. "Sorry for the inconvenience; have a wonderful day," the sign said. Dollar General A Dollar General Store in Las Vegas, N.M., was closed Thursday due to a public safety power shutoff initiated by Public Service Company of New Mexico to reduce the threat of wildfire amid high winds. Along with business closures, the power shutdown prompted Luna Community College to close for the afternoon, Facilities Director Matthew Griego said. "We don't have the infrastructure in place for the backup [power] right now," he said. However, New Mexico Highlands University and the local public schools appeared to continue operating throughout the day. "It's business as usual until we hear something from PNM," Highlands spokesperson David Lepre said. The state Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management said in a statement it was prepared to respond to any requests for help from Las Vegas. "We have helped the local emergency manager identify critical infrastructure that might be impacted and a shelter location in case that becomes a need. We're in constant communication with the local officials and PNM to monitor the situation," the statement said. When will power return? PNM's outage map showed about 1,000 customers in the Belen area, south of Albuquerque, had no service due to power line issues. Other equipment issues left about 1,300 people without power in a southeastern portion of Albuquerque. The Las Vegas shutoff would remain in place "until the extreme weather conditions have passed, and the risk of a wildfire has been reduced," the utility said in a news release Thursday morning. "Current forecasts predict that the weather event will subside by 8 p.m." 041725_MS_Las Vegas Power_002.JPG Jason Lassell, manager of the Big R store in Las Vegas, fills a generator with gasoline during a planned power outage Thursday. Buell said around 5:30 p.m. PNM crews were "standing by," meaning groups of workers were waiting for wildfire conditions to subside before patrolling the power lines and inspecting every inch of the deenergized system to ensure there were no tree limbs that had fallen or "any material caught in the lines or any damage to the lines." "This process will probably take several hours," Buell said. "It's a lengthy process, particularly because it will be mostly during the dark." PNM noted it has "20 miles of lines and more than 800 poles and equipment that must be patrolled, mostly on foot, and possibly repaired" in the Las Vegas area. "This could take an extended amount of time, and PNM is urging customers to prepare to be without power overnight." Staff writers Nicholas Gilmore and Esteban Candelaria contributed to this report
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
NM health department warns of risk from dust storms
A dust storm temporarily closed I25 at La Bajada Hill. on March 18, 2025. (George Ducker, NM Forestry Division ) Dust storms, such as the one New Mexico experienced on Tuesday, don't just pose visibility risks on the road. The New Mexico Department of Health on Wednesday issued an advisory on the potential health risks dust storms carry, aimed particularly for residents living in Doña Ana and Luna counties. Those counties, a news release noted, typically average 10 days annually when dust storms cause exceedances of the National Ambient Air Quality Standard for airborne particulate matter of 10 microns or less in size. 'Dust storms may be common in our region, and the health risks they pose are significant,' DOH Chief Medical Officer Dr. Miranda Durham said in a statement. 'The microscopic particles can trigger respiratory issues, particularly for vulnerable people. We urge residents to limit outdoor exposure during dust events and take appropriate precautions to protect their health.' Inhaling dust isn't good for anyone. 'Coarse dust particles can irritate the lungs, which may trigger asthma attacks and allergic reactions, especially for those with underlying respiratory issues. Some groups run particularly high risk, including: • infants, children, and teens. • elderly. • people with respiratory conditions like asthma, bronchitis, COPD and emphysema. • people with existing heart or lung disease. • pregnant women Avoiding outdoor activity during dust storms or, if unavoidable, wearing protective covering is advised. More information on the risks of dust storms can be found here.
Yahoo
16-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Grassfire near Wagon Mound was sparked by utility line
Mar. 15—Officials say a power line sparked a wildfire outside Wagon Mound that torched more than 15,000 acres but was largely contained by Saturday afternoon. George Ducker, state Forestry Division spokesman, said the Mogote Hill Fire had burned mainly grassland and was 50% contained. Ducker said he did not know which company owned the utility line or how it caused the blaze. In recent weeks, power companies statewide proposed power shutoffs to deter wildfire risk as gusty winds, some up to 70 mph, buffeted the state. The blaze sparked around noon Friday on private land east of Interstate 25, south of Wagon Mound, and at one point, led to two homes being evacuated, Ducker said. No structures were damaged and no more are threatened. "Today, crews worked to mop up the Mogote Hill Fire's perimeter and secure drainages, with good precipitation on the incident area," he said Saturday. Some firefighters have been sent home, while those still assigned to the blaze will continue checking for hotspots through Sunday.
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
3,000-acre grass fire starts south of Wagon Mound
A Mora County Sheriff's Deputy vehicle sits near the Mogote Hill Fire south of Wagon Mound on Friday. The blaze is 3,000 acres and 0% contained, according to NM State Forestry. (Photo Courtesy Mora County Sheriff's Office) Amid high winds and dry conditions across New Mexico, a grass fire ignited in Northern New Mexico and has quickly grown to 3,000 acres, according to New Mexico State Forestry. The grass fire, called the Mogote Hill Fire, is burning south of Wagon Mound and east of Interstate 25, according to Forestry spokesperson George Ducker. It is 0% contained. The blaze was discovered around 12:05 p.m. on private land, Ducker said. The cause is still under investigation. A high wind warning is in effect for the area until 6 p.m. today, with areas of blowing dust and gusts as high as 50 mph, Ducker said. There are a few homes scattered throughout the area, though evacuations have been ordered so far. Multiple volunteer and state fire crews are being dispatched to the scene, Ducker said. Forecasters have warned that the fire season has already begun in New Mexico and the rest of the Southwest, citing low snowpack, drought and the proliferation of fine fuels like grass.
