2022 New Mexico wildfires explained

2022 New Mexico wildfires
Cost:Unknown
Total Area:899453acres[1]
Fatalities:2
Is Season:yes
Year:2022
Season Name:New Mexico wildfires

The 2022 New Mexico wildfire season were a series of wildfires which burnt throughout the U.S. state of New Mexico., 904422acres had burned across the state.[2] The burned acreage figure for 2022 is well above the 1995-2015 average of approximately 270,000 acres burned annually. with the fire season in the state expected to continue until the advent of the regular North American Monsoon weather pattern throughout the Southwestern United States in the summer.[3] [4]

A number of factors contributed to the severe wildfire season. The majority of the state is experiencing extreme to exceptional drought conditions as part of a broader severe drought in the North American west, fueled by climate change.[5] A reduced 2021-2022 winter snowpack, long periods of higher-than-normal temperatures, and sustained strong winds have resulted in extreme fire conditions and a number of major incidents.[6] [7]

The season has seen a large number of significant wildfires.[8] In early April 2022, the McBride Fire destroyed over 200 structures and killed two people. Since April 2022, the Calf Canyon/Hermits Peak Fire grew to become the largest fire in New Mexico history.[9] It destroyed over 900 structures. Starting in May the Black Fire (2022), and ending in late July, burned in the Gila National Forest northeast of Silver City. The fire consumed some 325,000 acres and became the second-largest wildfire in state history. [10] Thousands of state residents were forced to evacuate for extended periods of times, and the fires produced smoke plumes with severe effects on air quality and health throughout New Mexico.[11]

List of wildfires

The following is a list of fires that burned more than 1,000 acres (400 ha), produced significant structural damage or casualties, or were otherwise notable.

NameCounty <-- of origin-->AcresStart dateContainment dateNotesRef
MM 38 FireMora1,705Cause under investigation[12]
San Luis FireHidalgo2,958Cause under investigation[13]
Arch FireRoosevelt5,732Human caused
Highway 380 FireLea17,658Caused by powerlines[14] [15]
Calf Canyon/Hermits Peak FireSan Miguel, Mora, Taos341,735Hermits Peak Fire (escaped prescribed burn) started April 6. The Calf Canyon Fire (escaped pile burn) started April 19. Merged on April 22. Largest and most destructive fire in state history.[16] [17]
Collins FireCatron3,030Was located in the Reserve Ranger District of the Gila National Forest[18] [19]
Overflow FireChaves1,900Caused by escaped prescribed burn[20]
McBride FireLincoln6,159Killed 2 people and destroyed 207 structures. Cause under investigation[21]
Cooks Peak FireMora, Colfax59,359Human caused[22]
Buckthorn FireEddy1,152Human caused[23]
Cerro Pelado FireSandoval46,605Cause under investigation[24] [25]
Mitchell FireHarding25,000Cause under investigation[26]
Campbell Road FireUnion2,000Cause under investigation[27]
380 Friday FireLea6,500Cause under investigation[28] [29]
Skiles 429 FireUnion1,312Cause under investigation[30]
Bear Trap FireSocorro38,225Cause under investigation[31]
Truck Tire FireRoosevelt1,500Human caused
380 May FireLea1,833Human caused
Black FireCatron, Grant, Sierra325,136Cause under investigation. Now the second-largest fire in modern New Mexico history[32]
Foster FireHidalgo10,403???Cause under investigation[33]
Midnight FireRio Arriba4,905Lightning[34] [35]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2022 Year-to-Date Wildland Fires > 100 Acres . Southwest Coordination Center . 12 June 2022.
  2. Web site: 2022 Year-to-Date Wildland Fires > 100 Acres . 12 June 2022 . Southwest Coordination Center.
  3. Web site: SWCC Predictive Services Intelligence Historical Fire Data . 2022-05-09 . gacc.nifc.gov.
  4. News: Miller . Elizabeth . Samenow . Jason . May 5, 2022 . Large fires are raging in New Mexico, and the worst may be coming . May 8, 2022 . The Washington Post.
  5. Web site: U.S. Drought Monitor New Mexico . 2022-05-09 . droughtmonitor.unl.edu.
  6. News: Garrett . Monica. 2022-04-27 . It is only April, and New Mexico has already seen a year's worth of fire activity that will worsen starting today. en . CNN. 2022-04-28.
  7. News: Associated Press . 2022-04-24 . Destructive wildfires in New Mexico trigger emergency declaration . en . NPR . 2022-04-25.
  8. Web site: agencies . Staff and . 2022-04-24 . One dead and thousands forced to flee as wildfires sweep across US . 2022-04-25 . the Guardian . en.
  9. News: U.S. Forest Service Planned Burn Caused Largest New Mexico Wildfire . 30 May 2022 . The New York Times . 28 May 2022.
  10. https://gacc.nifc.gov/swcc/predictive/intelligence/daily/SWCC_Morning_Situation_Report/SWCC_Morning_Situation_Report.htm SW MORNING SITUATION REPORT (SMSR)
  11. News: Silva . Claudia L. . May 12, 2022 . Smoke from New Mexico wildfires could have serious impact on health . The Santa Fe New Mexican . May 16, 2022.
  12. Web site: Mm 38 Fire near Santa Rosa, New Mexico - Current Incident Information and Wildfire Map Fire, Weather & Avalanche Center . 2022-05-17 . FireWeatherAvalanche.org . en-US.
  13. Web site: San Luis Fire near Lordsburg, New Mexico - Current Incident Information and Wildfire Map Fire, Weather & Avalanche Center . 2022-05-17 . FireWeatherAvalanche.org . en-US.
  14. Web site: WMason . 2022-03-30 . Highway 380 Fire – Lea County – March 30, 2022 . 2022-05-02 . NM Fire Info . en.
  15. Web site: March 30, 2022 . Lea County Office of Emergency Management and Environmental on Facebook . May 1, 2022 . Facebook.
  16. Web site: Inciweb - Calf Canyon Fire . Inciweb - Incident Information System . 28 April 2022.
  17. Web site: Inciweb - Hermits Peak Fire . Inciweb - Incident Information System . 28 April 2022.
  18. News: Padilla. Anna. Collins Fire at Gila National Forest Reserve Ranger District 100% contained. KRQE. 13 April 2022. 16 May 2022.
  19. News: Wyland. Scott. Communities near Las Vegas evacuate as dry conditions fuel fires across state. The Santa Fe New Mexican. 2 April 2022. 16 May 2022.
  20. Web site: Inciweb - Overflow Fire . Inciweb - Incident Information System . 29 April 2022.
  21. Web site: Inciweb - McBride Fire . Inciweb - Incident Information System . 28 April 2022.
  22. Web site: Inciweb - Cooks Peak . Inciweb - Incident Information System . 28 April 2022.
  23. Web site: Southwest Coordination Center Year-to-Date Incidents Map . 2022-05-19 . Southwest Coordination Center.
  24. Web site: Inciweb - Cerro Pelado Fire . Inciweb - Incident Information System . 28 April 2022.
  25. Web site: SFNFPIO . 2022-05-15 . Cerro Pelado Fire Update . 2022-05-02 . NM Fire Info . en.
  26. Web site: Inciweb - Mitchell Fire . Inciweb - Incident Information System . 29 April 2022.
  27. Web site: Inciweb - Campbell Road Fire . Inciweb - Incident Information System . 29 April 2022.
  28. Web site: WMason . 2022-04-23 . 380 Friday Fire – New Start Lea County -April 22, 2022 . 2022-05-02 . NM Fire Info . en.
  29. Web site: April 23, 2022 . Lea County Office of Emergency Management & Environmental on Facebook . May 1, 2022 . Facebook.
  30. Web site: WMason . 2022-05-02 . Skiles 429 Fire – Union County – May 2, 2022 FINAL . 2022-05-03 . NM Fire Info . en.
  31. Web site: Bear Trap Fire Information . 2022-05-20 . InciWeb - Incident Information System.
  32. Web site: Inciweb - Black Fire . Inciweb - Incident Information System . 16 May 2022.
  33. Web site: New wildfire starts in New Mexico's bootheel over the weekend. 31 May 2022. Silver City Sun News.
  34. Web site: Under control: Midnight Fire was manageable thanks to prescribed burns, thinning - Albuquerque Journal . 2022-12-20 . www.abqjournal.com. 17 September 2022 .
  35. Web site: Midnight Fire Saturday evening update . NM Fire Info . 12 June 2022 . en . 12 June 2022.