Forest officials: Dormant prescribed burn caused Calf Canyon Fire

May 28—The Calf Canyon Fire, like its companion, the Hermits Peak Fire, started because of a U.S. Forest Service burn, the agency disclosed Friday.

The blended fires have become the biggest in New Mexico history at more than 312,000 acres, and word Friday that the Calf Canyon Fire also was the product of a prescribed burn provoked disappointment and outrage from residents within the fire zone and state politicians.

Limbs and trees intentionally piled up and burned in January in an effort to remove debris and fuel from the forest appeared to have gone out, the Forest Service said in a statement but reignited into the Calf Canyon Fire in April.

The Forest Service said the "sleeper fire" remained dormant through three winter snows. But on April 9, a smoke report came in from the area of the "pile burn" in January. Though crews responded at that time, the fire resumed 10 days later and breached containment lines, the Forest Service said.

Strong winds on April 22 drove the Calf Canyon Fire into the Hermits Peak Fire, which itself had been caused by a Forest Service prescribed burn that blew out of control.

Santa Fe National Forest Supervisor Debbie Cress said the service is "100 percent focused on suppressing these fires."

"Our commitment is to manage the public lands entrusted to us by improving the forest's resilience to the many stressors they are facing, including larger, hotter wildfires, historic levels of drought, rising temperatures, and insects and disease," Cress said in the written statement.

Forest Service Chief Randy Moore eight days ago announced a pause in the use of prescribed fires on Forest Service land to study the situation.

Friday's revelation drew quick rebukes: Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham described as "unfathomable" the pain "caused by the actions of the U.S. Forest Service."

In a written statement, the governor said the fire "has burned more than 312,000 acres and fire suppression costs to date exceed $132 million. The U.S. Forest Service will now pay for 100 percent of those costs, which increase by around $5 million every day."

Learning how the fire began was even more emotional for those who've lived through its devastation.

Bart Ellison said he and his wife twice have evacuated their sheep farm 16 miles north of Las Vegas, N.M. Though Ellison, 80, said he hasn't lost his home or any of his 20 lambs, four rams and 13 ewes, "So many of my friends lost their homes. We were lucky."

He called it "a real disaster" that the pile of limbs and small trees continued burning.

"We know that those things can sit and smolder for a long time," he said.

Charla Yost of Pendaries RV Park in Rociada said she evacuated to stay with family members in Texas six weeks ago and is still there, although she said it's her understanding her Northern New Mexico residence is fine.

As for the Forest Service's burns, "I'm very unhappy about it," Yost, 77, said, adding that starting a prescribed burn at Hermit Peak a few days before high winds kicked up is simply bad judgment. "I don't know who in their right mind would even conceive of that."

Matt Hurteau, a University of New Mexico forest and fire ecologist, said tree limbs and other forms of fuel are drying out much faster than before.

In a pile burn, Hurteau said, embers can remain hot and spark a new fire months later.

"It's an unfortunate circumstance," he said in a phone interview. "We have to remember, the climate is changing, and that's changing the rules."

He said the same crews that spend nine months fighting fires then must oversee the prescribed burns. He recommended having "prescribed burn fire crews" that have those duties as their main responsibility.

The climate is warmer and drier and sucks moisture out of the system more rapidly, he said. But he added prescribed burns are an important strategy in diminishing potential fuels for fires.

"I think the point is, it's so dry right now," he said.

U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández, a Santa Fe Democrat, said in a statement that word of the Forest Service's role in the Calf Canyon Fire "adds to our sense of outrage."

"The destruction these two fires caused is immeasurable and will be felt for generations," said Leger Fernández.

U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján, D-NM, echoed what other politicians said about the news of the U.S Forest Service's involvement in the Calf Canyon Fire as well as the Hermits Peak Fire.

"This is unacceptable," he said in a statement, "and the federal government must take responsibility for its role in creating this disaster and do everything in its power to help New Mexicans recover and rebuild."

With weather becoming unfriendlier, officials said the fire's containment is now at 48 percent over about 634 miles. But crews saw a "reburn" of untouched timber Friday adjacent to a subdivision near Calf Canyon where the fire had been contained. Residents were evacuated, said San Miguel County Sheriff Chris Lopez.

"We are squarely back into fire weather," said fire behavior analyst Stewart Turner, noting high winds and low humidity. He predicted some growth in the fire on the west side of the blaze.

Meanwhile, New Mexico's other major fires continue to burn.

The Cerro Pelado Fire east of Jemez Springs is about 92 percent contained and has burned 45,605 acres. But the Black Fire, 30 miles northwest of Truth or Consequences, remains potent and has scorched about 191,500 acres. It was listed at 13 percent containment.

The Bear Trap Fire, 22 miles southwest of Magdalena, has burned about 38,100 acres and is 41 percent contained.