Free fuelwood distributed from the Hermits Peak-Calf Canyon fire

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service along with the New Mexico Energy Minerals and Natural Resources Forestry Division removed "dead and down" trees from the burn area of the 2022Hermits Peak Calf Canyon Fire.

That wood is now available to the public for free with the purchase of a permit for use as fuel wood.

The Calf Canyon-Hermits Peak fire became the largest fire in New Mexico history, burning nearly 350,000 acres in 2022.

“Hazard tree removal is a critical step in the post-fire process, and we’re working hard to ensure that public safety remains a top priority,” said Las Vegas District Forester for New Mexico Forestry Division Shannon Atencio.

Removal of debris in the Johnson Mesa area, Walker Flats area and the Capulin area was also completed. Trees were cut and piled for free fuelwood for the community.

The following locations will have free personal use fuelwood permits for pick-up:

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• Las Vegas Ranger Station at 1926 Seventh Street, Las Vegas, New Mexico 87701

• Pecos Ranger Station at 32 South Main Street, Pecos, New Mexico 87522

• Santa Fe Ranger Station at 11 Forest Lane, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87508

The permits are required to collect the fuelwood and permit holders are encouraged to check-in with rangers for any forest closures.

Appropriate tools should be brought to harvest the wood, including nails or docks to load the wood, Santa Fe National Forestry officials said.

“We started by identifying the trees that were most likely to fall, blocking roads and making travel through the forest for recreation and recovery activities difficult and dangerous,” Atencio said.

The New Mexico State Forestry Division is still advised that there are still hazard trees in the area of the burn.

These hazard trees are noticeable by “charred or burned” wood that can cause the trunk to break under tense weather conditions.

“This first step in restoring safe access to the Santa Fe National Forest will not only support future restoration work in the area but expand traditional use of the forest by the community,” said Forest Supervisor for Santa Fe National Forest Shaun Sanchez.

For more information permit holders can visit the Santa Fe National Forest site.

Juan Corral can be reached at JCorral@gannett.com or on twitter at @Juan36Corr.

This article originally appeared on Alamogordo Daily News: Free fuelwood with permit from the Hermits Peak-Calf Canyon fire