The U.S. Forest Service has released the cause of the wildfire, named the Calf Canyon Fire, currently ripping through New Mexico and said to be the largest in the state’s history.
According to investigators with the agency, a prescribed burn set to clear out vegetation in the Santa Fe National Forest in January turned into a sleeper fire, appearing dormant as it smoldered undetected.
The fire emerged in early April, and due to high winds, it grew beyond the control of firefighters before merging with another prescribed burn nearby, according to the U.S. Forest Service.
“A wind event on April 22 caused significant fire spread, and the Calf Canyon Fire merged with the Hermits Peak Fire, which was caused by an escaped prescribed burn,” the U.S. Forest Service said.
Firefighters have struggled with the Hermits Peak fire just about as soon as it was set on April 6.
Prescribed burns have recently been criticized, being questioned for their effectiveness and safety. Now Forest Service Chief Randy Moore says the agency is planning a 90-day national review to see if the practice should be used.
“Lessons learned and any resulting program improvements will be in place prior to resuming prescribed burning,” Moore said.
Prescribed burns in states like New Mexico, where winds and high heat can quickly turn the tale of a fire, are at the center of the debate on whether or not the practice should be used.
Together the wildfires have burned across more than 312,000 acres of land. The fire has forced evacuations for thousands of northern New Mexico residents as it burns through hundreds of homes, New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham shared.
The governor shared that the fire is also costing a big chunk of change, with more than $132 million being spent on efforts to extinguish it.
“The U.S. Forest Service will now pay for 100% of those costs, which increase by around $5 million every day,” Grisham said. “I appreciate the U.S. Forest Service assuming responsibility for the federal actions that caused this terrible crisis.”
Currently, the fire is 48% contained, but firefighters remain on high alert with high wind and heat expected throughout the region.
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