Latest news with #MogoteHillFire
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
New round of NM burn bans imposed amid drought, wildfire risk
A Mora County Sheriff's Deputy vehicle sits near the Mogote Hill Fire south of Wagon Mound in mid-March. A new round of fire restrictions imposed Monday in some areas of the state aims to prevent wildfires this summer. (Photo Courtesy Mora County Sheriff's Office) Six New Mexico counties and the Mescalero Apache Reservation imposed new fire restrictions Monday, citing high wildfire risk in various parts of the state. In total, according to the New Mexico Forestry Division, 23 towns, counties, tribal or other jurisdictions across the state have imposed some level of fire restriction due to high fire risk. The division has a map here showing much of the state under some type of burn ban, including federal and state forests. 'In the face of significant wildfire potential, we need every New Mexican to take active steps to reduce the likelihood of an accidental wildfire start,' State Forester Laura McCarthy said in a statement. 'These restrictions are needed because of current wildfire threats and the rising probability of dangerous wildfires as temperatures warm through May and June.' Forecasters predicted earlier this month that southeastern New Mexico, including the Gila National Forest, would experience above-normal wildfire risk in May that would grow to cover the eastern two thirds of New Mexico by June. A national drought update issued Tuesday said a warm, dry spring had led to intensification of drought conditions in the Intermountain West region, with the worst conditions in New Mexico and Arizona. So far this year, 377 wildfires in New Mexico have burned more than 33,500 acres, though the vast majority of those fires burned less than an acre. The biggest wildfire this year, so far, the Mogote Hill Fire, burned a little more than 21,000 acres near Wagon Mound in mid-March. Of the 377 fires, 275 were human-caused, 26 were naturally caused and causes of the remaining 76 are still being determined, according to the Southwest Coordination Center. The fire restrictions are in place as most of the state experiences some form of drought. According to the Office of the State Engineer, all but 3.8% of New Mexico is in drought, with 41% in extreme drought and 7.5% in exceptional drought. Stage I fire restrictions generally prohibit building a fire in an area other than a developed campsite or picnic area, along with smoking outside of a vehicle or building. State II restrictions also prohibit discharging a firearm, operating an internal combustion engine, welding or using explosives. Nowhere in New Mexico is currently under the most severe fire restriction, in which entire areas are closed to the public to prevent wildfires. Read more about the county- or town-level fire restrictions on the New Mexico Forestry website.
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
NM wildfire outlook above normal for most of state
Crews work to secure containment lines on the Mogote Hill Fire near Wagon Mound in mid-March. Wildfire potential will be above normal in most of the state this month, according to a new outlook. (Photo courtesy NM Forestry) National fire weather forecasters warn that most of New Mexico will face above-normal fire potential this month, and those conditions will worsen until at least until the monsoon season begins in July. The National Interagency Fire Center issued its April wildfire outlook Tuesday, presenting a series of maps showing New Mexico with snow pack far below normal, along with severe drought and above normal average temperatures expected throughout the summer. Those factors combine to make the state, particularly the western two-thirds, at high risk of wildfires beginning in May, according to forecasters. 'It's bad': How drought, lack of snowpack and federal cuts could spell wildfire disaster in NM So far in New Mexico this year, 222 wildfires have started, affecting 31,675 acres. Humans caused the vast majority of those fires, according to the Southwest Coordination Center. The Mogote Hill Fire near Wagon Mound, which burned an estimated 15,000 acres, ranks as the biggest New Mexico fire so far this year. Last week, New Mexico State Forestry released daily wildfire awareness tips, including how and when to safely burn debris. The above-normal wildfire potential occurs amid federal cuts to the United States Forest Service, including probationary employees who often had wildfire suppression training. Proposed federal lease terminations also include two New Mexico wildfire dispatch centers covering one-third of the state, though U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich's office recently told Source New Mexico that he had received 'assurances' that the dispatch centers would stay open. A Heinrich spokesperson noted, however, that his office was still awaiting official confirmation about the dispatch centers from the General Services Administration. The Heinrich spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment Tuesday as to whether that official confirmation had yet arrived.
Yahoo
17-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Utility line caused 21,000-acre Mogote Hill Fire, which is now under control
Crews work to secure containment lines on the Mogote Hill Fire near Wagon Mound this weekend. (Photo courtesy NM Forestry) A fast-moving wildfire near Wagon Mound that ignited Friday is now under control, according to a State Forestry spokesperson, and investigators also determined that a utility line was the cause. The Mogote Hill Fire in Northern New Mexico grew to 21,300 acres, according to dispatch records. That's a little more than 33 square miles. The grass fire ignited a little after noon Friday amid dry conditions and high winds, prompting evacuation orders along a nearby state highway. Multiple state crews responded and made significant progress over the weekend. Precipitation over the wildfire also helped, Forestry spokesperson George Ducker said in an emailed statement. The threat to a few structures in the area has passed, and evacuation orders are no longer in effect, Ducker said. Ducker told Source New Mexico said he did not know who owned the utility line that sparked the blaze, and referred the issue for comment to the Mora County Sheriff's Office, which had not responded by publication Monday morning. 'Stonewalling': Forest Service mum on firings during wildfire briefing for congressional staff Rural electrical co-operatives own most of the utility lines in that area. This legislative session, lawmakers are considering House Bill 334, which would remove liability for rural electrical co-ops that spark a wildfire as long as they've submitted wildfire mitigation plans in advance for approval by the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission. Lawmakers have told Source New Mexico the bill is an attempt to prevent lawsuits from bankrupting small electrical co-operatives that typically have little cash on hand, especially in high wind events during ongoing drought. At an interim Legislative Finance Committee last summer, Rep. Joe Sanchez (D-Alcalde) said a lawsuit against the Jemez Mountains Electric Cooperative, where Sanchez used to work, ultimately had to pay $25 million for its role in the Las Conchas Fire in 2011. The amount of risk co-ops face from wildfire lawsuits limits the amount of insurance they can secure, he said, and after the Las Conchas Fire, the co-op can only get $2 million to $3 million in coverage. 'Any lawsuit would put the co-ops in bankruptcy, and all that's going to do is drive up costs for poor people in our rural areas,' he said at the meeting. HB334, which Sanchez and four other lawmakers sponsored, is awaiting a hearing at the House Rural Development, Land Grants and Cultural Affairs Committee. The committee's schedule for the last week of the session has not yet been released.
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
15-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Boil water advisory lifted for City of Las Vegas
LAS VEGAS, N.M. (KRQE) – The mandatory boil water advisory for the City of Las Vegas has been lifted. The city was required to issue the advisory after sediment was found in the water system last month. Mogote Hill Fire burns 3,000 acres north of Las Vegas On Friday, the New Mexico Environment Department's Drinking Water Bureau confirmed the water system met state requirements to lift the boil advisory. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
