New Report by the U.S. Forest Service Shows There Were Errors in the New Mexico Prescribed Burns

An investigation by the U.S. Forest Service found that employees made several mistakes, including using inaccurate models, prior to lighting the flames of a planned burn in New Mexico, which resulted in the largest wildfire ever recorded in the state. 

HOW MISCALCULATIONS LED TO THE LARGEST WILDFIRE IN THE HISTORY OF NEW MEXICO

An 80-page report released by the Forest Service outlines the blunders in planning the prescribed burn and the conditions on the ground, including how much timber and vegetation were available to fuel the fire, how dry the environment was, and how vulnerable rural communities and water supplies were if things went wrong.

According to the review, the planning and analysis for the April 6 prescribed burn were carried out in accordance with current Forest Service standards and policies, and the fire was conducted in an approved way. However, “much drier conditions” were present than had been anticipated.

The report cited numerous details about weather conditions being overlooked or misrepresented and mentioned that some automated weather stations nearby were shut down. In addition, fire starters did not stop ignition or suppress prescribed fires when they were clearly aware of high fire intensity and favorable fuels.

Due to ongoing extreme weather conditions, Moore halted all prescribed burns on National Forest lands for 90 days on May 20. However, they believe that such burns are necessary to avoid catastrophic wildfires, and the vast majority of them do not damage ecosystems.

Federal investigators determined two government-authorized blazes merged to become the New Mexico blaze, which is still burning. As of Tuesday, the fire had scorched more than 533 square miles (1,380 square kilometers), making it the largest springtime blaze in the United States. As a result of decades of drought and warming temperatures brought on by climate change, fire danger in western forests has increased to historic levels.

The National Interagency Fire Center said that the number of acres burned so far this year is more than twice and half the national average for the past 10 years. 

Have you or a loved one been injured or lost properties as a result of the Hermits Peak and Calf Canyon fires? Our experienced fire accident attorneys at Will Ferguson & Associates can help you get the compensation you deserve. 

If you are wondering if you have a case or simply want to know more about the fire accident legal process, do not hesitate to contact us. We are available 24/7 and our goal is to help you get the compensation you deserve.

Contact our law firm today for a free consultation.

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