Wildfire Wednesday #189: Planning Your Exit: Egress Routes for Fire Safety

Happy Fire Friday!

The Ready, Set, Go! guide is a well-known resource for disaster preparedness. However, knowing where to go and how to get there is an often-overlooked part of evacuation planning. Residents knowing the local egress routes enables everyone to evacuate in a fast and orderly manner, ensuring that all members of the community get to safety. Today’s newsletter dives deep into community-scale egress and evacuation route planning.

This Wildfire Wednesday features:

Be well and stay cool,
Rachel

Evacuation and Egress Basics

What is egress?

Emergency exit planning refers to the creation of clear and accessible routes that can be used to evacuate a building in case of an emergency. Egress planning extends the concept to the entire community, focusing on the ability of all individuals, including those with assistance needs or disabilities, to evacuate safely and efficiently during a disaster. Proper planning for household and community evacuation during a wildfire involves ensuring that exit routes are clear, signage is visible, and safety procedures are well-communicated and understood by everyone. A successful evacuation is one where everyone at risk safely and efficiently vacates the hazardous area without injury or loss of life.

How does egress planning for wildfires differ from planning for other disasters?

When a wildfire is approaching a community and triggers evacuation warnings, conditions on the ground are often different - and more chaotic - than they would be in day-to-day life. Smoke from the oncoming fire can darken the sky to nighttime-like conditions and make it harder to see or drive. Embers can travel miles ahead of the flaming front and start spot fires close to the area being evacuated. Conditions change rapidly as the fire grows, winds shift, cars clog roads, and emergency responders need to access the area. Evacuating livestock or large animals compounds the challenge since animals may be frightened and unresponsive; hooking up a trailer in smokey conditions is time-consuming; and trailers in the flow of traffic make for a more complex evacuation. Vehicle accidents become more likely and trees or powerlines may blow down in strong winds, potentially blocking evacuation routes. An approaching fire can also make it so that residents can only evacuate in one direction (away from the fire), cutting off some roundabout egress options.

Photo from Eno Fire Department.

Communities that are most frequently threatened or impacted by fires, such as those in the wildland urban interface, are often relatively rural or isolated. They may have fewer roads into and out of the community because of landscape constraints (e.g. houses in a steep river valley where the terrain only allows for roads that parallel the river) or because they have less infrastructure overall. There is a much higher probability of something going wrong during evacuation for communities with only one road in and out. Proactive evacuation planning ahead of time by experts, community leaders, and residents is therefore critical.

Why is it important?

If an evacuation does not happen quickly and go smoothly, flame, ember, and smoke exposures (burnover conditions) can overtake evacuating residents or cut off egress routes. These burnovers during egress can result in injuries or fatalities. The 153,000-acre 2018 Camp Fire destroyed more than 18,000 structures and caused 85 fatalities; most of the damage happened and most lives were lost within the first four hours of this extremely fast-moving fire as the rapid fire spread affected evacuation routes, gridlocked roads, blocked-off exits, and eventually overtook evacuating residents (2018 Camp Fire After Action Report).

Planning for multiple, passable, well-marked exit routes and backup evacuation options before a fire happens can save lives. Residents who know the egress plan for their community are empowered to respond to an evacuation notice quickly and safely.

How to Improve Egress Routes

Building familiarity, forming a personalized plan

Click to view a comprehensive guidance document from FEMA for preparing for evacuation.

Improving your community’s egress routes starts with knowing the current community evacuation plan and building your own evacuation procedures around it.

  • Become familiar with what your community’s emergency notification and evacuation plans are. Identify several pre-planned routes away from your home and out of your community in different directions in case the first route is closed or threatened. In most cases, you will be evacuating away from a fire, storm, or disaster that will be blocking travel in specific directions, so have alternatives.

  • Know the evacuation plans for locations where household members regularly are, such as workplaces, schools and commuter routes. Decide who will pick up children and pets. Ask the staff at your children’s schools and other organized activities what their evacuation and parent reunification plans are and include them in your personal evacuation plan.

    • Many cities and towns now include pet shelters in their emergency management plans. At most pet shelters, you will need to provide your pet’s own supplies, such as food, cages, bedding, toys, and medications.

  • Figure out how you will receive warnings on all home phones, cellphones, and other devices. Sign up local emergency notifications through your city or county’s emergency management office. In Albuquerque, for example, the Office of Emergency Management coordinates flexible evacuation plans depending on the situation, rather than having fixed routes for every hazard.

  • Maintain roads and bridges on your property (and in your community, if you are responsible for them).

    • Make sure everyone who needs to can open gated roads.

    • Build or replace culverts with materials that won’t melt. You can also prepare for post-fire impacts to roads by replacing or upgrading culverts to be able to accommodate post-fire flooding and debris flows (Post-Fire Treatments - A Primer for New Mexico Communities, page 29).

    • Improve roads to make them wide enough for emergency vehicles.

  • Locate several places you could go if you are evacuated, including homes of relatives or trusted friends in other communities. This will serve as a final destination for you and your family to go until it is safe to return home. You can use the FEMA app to find open shelters during an active disaster.

  • Know where livestock can be taken during an evacuation and when they should be evacuated. Fairgrounds, rodeo grounds, and equestrian centers are common sheltering locations for large animals. Evacuate your livestock early, as large animals require significantly more time to load and transport. Do not wait until a mandatory evacuation is ordered.

    • When voluntary evacuations are called, begin loading and transporting your animals immediately. Livestock can sense smoke and stress, which often causes them to resist loading.

    • If a fire is moving quickly and you are unable to evacuate your livestock, prioritize your own life and safety. Turn your animals out into a large, heavily grazed or irrigated pasture. Remove all halters and do not lock them in wooden barns, which are highly flammable.

  • Work with local leaders to regularly organize and hold community wildfire evacuation exercises. These community drills help educate residents on evacuation procedures and egress routes and prepare them for what an evacuation will feel like. They can also help local emergency responders understand how long it will actually take for residents to evacuate (Drilling for Disaster Preparedness, 2026).

Improving egress and exit options

Improving existing roads

Residents can work with their neighbors and community leaders to improve the condition of their existing roads. Widen narrow roads and remove low-hanging tree branches or other obstructions to ensure that emergency vehicles can access the area. Ensure that roads are safe for evacuation by reducing the potential for open flames along key egress routes and travel arteries. Hardening of evacuation routes can be accomplished by reducing the amount of flammable material along these roadways (also called fuels management) so that evacuating vehicles will not be exposed to direct flames, maintaining tenability of the egress routes and allow evacuees to remain in their vehicles and exit to safety.

  • Create horizontal clearance by removing (cutting) hazardous vegetation, brush, and trees at least 10 feet out from the edge of the road.

  • Prune tree limbs up 3-4 feet off the ground along the roadside to prevent ground fires from climbing into the tree crowns (reduce ladder fuels).

  • Mow tall grasses, especially invasive non-natives, growing along roadsides.

  • Access routes should be an all-weather packed surface capable of supporting the weight of fire apparatus (up to 75,000lbs). Vegetation should be removed or pruned to provide at least 13.5 feet of vertical clearance above road surface to allow for fire response vehicle passage.

Building new roads

Functional road redundancy refers to the design of a road network so that if one route is blocked or damaged, alternative routes remain available to maintain or restore transportation and evacuation capabilities during disasters. Access/egress routes should also be spaced sufficiently so that both routes are not blocked during a wildfire emergency event.
Figure is from Best Practices for Wildfire-Resilient Subdivision Planning, page 21.

Improving your functional road redundancy saves lives. A recent study out of UC Santa Barbara found that one of the strongest predictors of wildfire fatalities may be the number of roads out of a community, with fatalities dropping sharply as communities gain more outward road access. “There are 17 million Americans living in communities [with poor road infrastructure] that are not designed survive a fast-moving wildfire… If you know you’re in an egress-limited community, you should have conversations with your family, your neighbors, your community, [and your city planners] about what the evacuation plan is.” This interactive map shows communities across the nation with a combination of high fire risk and six or fewer functional exits (Six Exits to Safety, 2026).

“Current building codes and standards are primarily focused on mitigating interior building fires for single parcels or buildings. However, access and egress requirements to safely manage people (e.g., number, separation of, and capacity of exits) are aimed at getting people out of buildings. There currently is not an equivalent fire safety code, standard, or consensus document that requires provisions for people management during wildfire events at neighborhood-, community- or regional-scales. This means that most existing and new developments may not have a sufficient number, arrangement, or capacity of egress routes to evacuate all residents to a relative place of safety during a major wildfire incident or allow for sufficient access for first responders” (Best Practices for Wildfire Resilient Subdivision Planning, 2025).

Identifying additional evacuation routes

If constructing additional exit routes is not a feasible solution for your community, identify nearby unimproved roads which can serve as tertiary evacuation routes. For WUI communities, there may be roads on nearby public land (such as Forest Service roads) that lead away from the area and can serve as critical secondary evacuation routes or safety corridors. though they pose specific challenges. Because these dirt or gravel roads can be narrow and rocky, local planners and residents should use official tools to map their egress, such as the Wildfire Risk to Communities Map and local USDA Motor Vehicle Use Maps.

A gated entrance to a Forest Service road. Photo from Wikipedia.

Work with the relevant entity (e.g. the US Forest Service Forest Supervisor) to identify specific roads as designated egress routes, improve the road condition by grading or rocking the surface, and perform road hardening by removing roadside vegetation to make them safer for evacuation. For roads which are usually closed to the public but have been identified as potential egress routes to be used in case of an evacuation, request that standard closure gates be replaced with breakaway gates, also called crash gates. These structures prevent unauthorized daily access but are designed to collapse safely upon heavy impact and may be bypassed during evacuation. Read about how these structures are being utilized in evacuation planning for the community of Placitas.

Road-building alone is not a complete solution – steep terrain, ecological constraints, and cost make new roads impractical in many places. Instead, consider these three complementary approaches:

  1. expanding egress infrastructure where feasible,

  2. improving early warning systems and evacuation behavior, and

  3. investing in pre-planned shelter-in-place options like temporary refuge areas for when evacuation fails.

Building egress into development design

As new developments are proposed or planned, work alongside local fire departments and your Fire Chief to talk to your city council, city planners, and elected officials. Help them understand that evacuation route diversification is an essential safety consideration and multiple routes of egress must be included in development design from the beginning. Updates may be made to local building ordinances to ensure that multiple exit routes are required. Conversely, city councils should involve fire professionals and integrate fire-related concerns at an early stage in strategic planning processes.

Schematic illustrating scale differences critical for holistic wildfire resiliency planning (adapted from UCANR 2020). Learn more: Best Practices for Wildfire-Resilient Subdivision Planning

The biggest takeaways

Road improvement and construction is an important piece of evacuation planning. However, much of the impetus for staying safe comes back to this core lesson: you are responsible for your own safety. Be prepared with your go bag, sign up for emergency notification alerts, have an evacuation plan and personalized procedures in place, and ensure that you have clear egress on your own property which allows for you to safely evacuate and for emergency response vehicles to access your home.

  • Have an evacuation plan in place

    • Have your go bag packed and ready at all times. Know where other items you will want to take with you, such as photo albums or medications, are located.

    • If you need assistance evacuating, have a plan for who will help you leave. This could be a family member, friend, neighbor, or a home health professional.

    • Know the exits from your community, including tertiary evacuation routes (such as Forest Service roads which are not utilized as a usual means of travel).

  • Evacuate early

    • Fires are moving faster and populations are growing, especially in previously rural areas. This means that when a wildfire approaches, more people are trying to evacuate in a shorter time period. Plan to evacuate early, especially if you are a member of a vulnerable population (those with mobility limitations, medical devices, young children, sensitive to smoke).

      • Individuals with assistance needs or who are part of a vulnerable population can register with their fire department ahead of time.

    • Regardless of the number of evacuation routes available in your community, being prepared with a go bag and leaving early can help reduce road congestion.

  • Evacuate according to the guidance of local emergency responders.

    • Official evacuation alerts on your mobile device or on the radio include specific instructions about what communities need to evacuate and where they should go.

  • Know how you are going to get in touch with your family or members of your household once you have evacuated.

    • Identify a common contact - this should be someone who lives in another community and who everyone in the family will independently get ahold of to check in.

    • Determine multiple agreed-upon meeting places. Know where you will gather depending on the direction from which the fire is approaching.

Additional Resources

Upcoming webinars

August 5, 11am-12pm: Better Together: The Power of Relationships in Fire Management
The solutions to obstacles in improving fire management are nuanced and local, but united by a common theme – the need to work together. This webinar will cover case studies from around the Fire Learning Network that show how focusing first on building trust and relationships leads to authentic, sustained partnerships that are capable of making fundamental change for the better in how we live and work with fire.

Learn more and register

August 6, 12-1pm: 2025 New Mexico Forest Health Conditions - A View from Above
Each year the New Mexico Forestry Division partners with the United State Forest Service - Aerial Survey Program to conduct aerial detection surveys (ADS) of approximately 14 million acres of forests and woodlands in New Mexico. Through ADS, surveyors can observe and digitally map forest health conditions. Join FACNM and Forestry Division for this upcoming webinar to learn more about the conditions observed in 2025.

Learn more and register

The Spark: Wildfire Preparedness is Year Round (July)

July 2026 Edition

Please feel encouraged to adapt and share these materials through your own channels.

About The Spark

The Spark: Wildfire Preparedness is Year-Round is a unified, statewide messaging campaign that promotes year-round wildfire preparedness through consistent and coordinated outreach each month. It is produced by a core group of partners, including FACNM, BLM–New Mexico, NM State Forestry Division, USDA Forest Service Southwestern Region, Forest Stewards Guild, US Department of Interior, and the New Mexico Forest and Watershed Restoration Institute (NMFWRI).

The bulletin below is designed to communicate wildfire topics to broad audiences. Some wildfires are entirely preventable and this month’s issue focuses on preventing human-caused wildfires by reducing the number of accidental and negligent ignitions. Tips are provided for how to reduce ignitions from common sources such as debris burning, power tools, campfires, vehicles and trailers, and target shooting.

Download the Bulletin
Download an accessible, readable version of the bulletin
Download a print friendly version of the Bulletin

To view The Spark’s main page and view archived Wildfire Preparedness is Year-Round messaging, click here: The Spark: Wildfire Preparedness is Year Round — Fire Adapted NM

Wildfire Wednesday #188: Not Every Wildfire Starts with Lightning

Happy Wednesday FACNM community,

This summer, lightning-caused wildfires have already burned more than 23,000 acres across New Mexico. As the early monsoon season arrives, increased lightning activity, combined with dry fuels and erratic, gusty winds, creates ideal conditions for wildfire ignitions and rapid fire growth. Although monsoon rains can eventually help reduce fire danger, the first storms of the season often produce abundant lightning with little rainfall reaching the ground. These "dry thunderstorms" can ignite forest fuels, while strong, shifting winds make fires more difficult for firefighters to contain. While these naturally occurring ignitions are an expected part of New Mexico's fire-adapted landscapes and cannot be prevented, many wildfire ignitions are caused by human activities and unlike lightning, these fires are largely avoidable.

Since 2020, human-caused wildfires have burned more than 2 million acres across Arizona and New Mexico. Every year, preventable ignitions, from equipment use to unattended campfires, power lines, and target shooting spark fires that threaten communities and landscapes. Because these ignitions are avoidable, education and awareness are some of the most effective tools for reducing the number and size of destructive wildfires.

In this week's Wildfire Wednesday, we highlight research conducted here in New Mexico on human-caused wildfire ignitions and take a closer look at one preventable source in particular: target shooting.

This Wildfire Wednesday features:

Wishing you all the best,
Megan

Human-Caused Ignitions in the Southwest

Statistics

People start wildfires in a wide variety of ways. Vehicle exhaust pipes, cigarette butts, and poorly extinguished campfires are all common causes for wildfires. On average across the US, human-caused wildfires are responsible for over half of the total acres burned in a given year. Some years the percentage of acres burned by human-caused wildfires is much greater; for example, 82 percent in 2020. Specifically in New Mexico, humans have ignited nearly half (48%) of the wildfires since 1990, and these fires accounted for half (51%) of the acres burned by wildfire in the state during this period (SWCC 2026).

Human-caused wildfire ignitions often align with key access points to public lands including trails, campsites and roads that are typically embedded in fire prone vegetation and terrain, with many of these ignitions introduced by people engaged in recreational activities (Devenport and Edgeley 2025). Recreation-related ignitions can be caused by an array of accidental, intentional, or negligent human actions ranging from abandoned campfires and cigarettes to improper vehicle or firearm use. On average since 2001, abandoned campfires have started 44% of the human-ignited wildfires in the Southwest (Arizona, New Mexico, and west Texas). In this region, abandoned campfires are the most common single source of human ignitions, and 80 percent of wildfires started by campfires are within a quarter mile of a road (Evans 2018). Unattended campfires are a problem too. According to a report published in 2018, over Memorial Day weekend in 2017, Santa Fe National Forest staff found 41 unattended campfires.

Campfire and road ignitions often drive larger fires because of their locations. In contrast to lightning, which may be more likely on a ridge (and then burn down slope), human ignitions are often linked to roads and recreation sites in valleys. Fires that start in valleys or lower slopes can burn up slope easily and hence grow faster. Additionally, some the country’s most devastating and costly wildfires have been started by campfires. For example, the 2016 Soberanes Fire in California was started by an illegal campfire and cost at least $229 million dollars to suppress, and the 2011 Wallow Fire in Arizona burned more than half a million acres after it was ignited by an abandoned campfire. The acres burned in that single fire alone were more than the average number of acres burned by human-ignited wildfires across the early 2000s.

Campfires and other recreation-related activities are well-known sources of human-caused wildfires, but in New Mexico, agricultural and debris burning is the leading causes of unintentional wildfire ignitions. During periods of elevated fire danger, counties and municipalities often implement burn bans to reduce the risk of escaped fires. However, when people choose to burn despite dry, windy conditions and highly flammable vegetation, a single escaped fire can quickly grow into a large wildfire.

Shooting Range Accidental Ignitions

Photograph showing smoldering ignition from a hot bullet fragment as first detected in peat. Photo credit: Rocky Mountain Research Station

Target shooting is an often-overlooked source of human-caused wildfire ignitions, yet accidental fires caused by firearms occur across the western United States every year. In fact, the frequency of target shooting-related wildfires has increased substantially over the past 15 to 20 years. Fires can start when a bullet strikes a rock or metal object, producing sparks or hot metal fragments that land in dry vegetation. Under hot, dry, and windy conditions, those fragments can provide enough heat to ignite fine fuels, allowing a small ignition to quickly grow into a wildfire.

Research has confirmed that this risk is real. A 2013 study by the Rocky Mountain Research Station found that bullets can reliably ignite dry fuels, particularly ammunition containing steel components (such as a steel core or jacket) and solid copper bullets. In the study, researchers fired bullets at a steel target, directing the resulting fragments into oven-dried peat moss to evaluate ignition potential. While all types of ammunition have the potential to start fires under the right conditions, steel- and copper-based bullets fragmented more frequently, increasing the likelihood of ignition. Although these fragments cool rapidly, they can still ignite very dry, fine organic material when it is close to the impact site.

Accidental target shooting ignitions occur throughout the West, and although comprehensive historical records are limited, land managers recognize the growing need to reduce this source of ignition risk. One promising approach is the development of managed shooting areas that are designed to minimize ignition risk. A case study featured by the Southwest Fire Science Consortium highlights how the Bureau of Land Management's Phoenix District has reduced wildfire risk by constructing and maintaining developed shooting ranges in the Sonoran Desert. By providing safer locations for recreational shooting, these facilities help reduce accidental ignitions, protect surrounding landscapes, and improve safety for both the public and firefighters. This example demonstrates how proactive prevention strategies can reduce human-caused wildfires while still supporting recreational opportunities.

https://youtu.be/UqwldweolHY?si=rNePS-AYzYJRvK6v

Prevention

Fire prevention focuses on stopping unwanted wildfires before they start, in essence, addressing the cause rather than the consequences. Because humans are responsible for the vast majority of wildfire ignitions in the United States, prevention efforts target the most common sources of accidental fire starts. While no single strategy can eliminate all human-caused wildfires, small, targeted actions can make a meaningful difference. Research has shown that prevention education can reduce wildfires caused by escaped campfires, smoking, equipment use, and other preventable human activities. Many people are already familiar with common fire prevention practices, such as avoiding spark-producing equipment on high fire danger days, securing tow chains, never driving or parking on dry grass, keeping burn piles attended, and remembering to "drown, stir, and feel" before leaving a campfire.

While these messages are widely shared through signs, public service announcements, and educational materials, they are often delivered in a one-way format. To make wildfire prevention education more engaging and interactive, the Columbus College of Art & Design partnered with Smokey Bear to develop Smokey's Scouts, a mobile matching game for kids, teens, and adults. Players join Smokey Bear and a team of animal scouts on a hike, identifying and removing fire hazards along the trail to prevent unwanted wildfires. As they play, users learn about Smokey Bear's history, practice recognizing wildfire risks, and earn badges and bear tokens as they progress through scout training. By turning prevention lessons into an interactive experience, the game helps reinforce fire-safe behaviors in a fun way.

Interactive tools are just one way to expand wildfire prevention outreach. Another opportunity is to incorporate prevention messaging into existing programs such as Firewise USA® and Fire Adapted Communities, which already engage homeowners and neighborhoods in reducing wildfire risk. By connecting human-caused ignitions to the risks faced by communities in the wildland-urban interface (WUI), these programs can help residents better understand how everyday decisions influence wildfire outcomes. Integrating prevention education into community wildfire preparedness efforts can also strengthen local advocates for fire-safe practices and reduce preventable ignitions. Since people cause many wildfires, we also have the power to prevent them.

Additional Resources and Upcoming Opportunities

NM Wildland Urban Fire Summit Call for Presentations

Interested in sharing during a flash round of project presentations at this year's New Mexico Wildland Urban Fire Summit (NM WUFS)? See the call below and come share a project from the WUI that showcases one or more of the three pillars of the National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy: Fire Adapted Communities, Resilient Landscapes, and Safe & Effective Wildfire Response.

Otherwise, please save the date for our 2026 conference in Silver City, NM October 14 – 16.

 

NEW RESOURCE:
After Wildfire New Mexico StoryMap

After Wildfire New Mexico is a resource created to help New Mexico communities, homeowners, landowners, and local governments navigate the critical period following a wildfire. Whether you are returning home, seeking recovery assistance, or organizing a community response, the After Wildfire Guide provides clear steps and reliable resources to help you stay safe and begin recovery with confidence.

The Guide was updated in Spring 2026 by a large group of partners from across the state, and New Mexico Forestry Division subsequently developed an interactive StoryMap version of After Wildfire. The StoryMap features easy-to-navigate sections, clickable links, and embedded resources, making it easier to quickly find the information and tools you need. Click this link for full-screen viewing of the StoryMap: https://arcg.is/1zXGPC4 or visit After Wildfire Guide — Fire Adapted NM. Sections of the Guide included in the StoryMap are:

A PDF version of After Wildfire New Mexico will be available for download later this summer.

 

FACNM Leaders and Members are eligible to apply for grants awards of up to $2,000 to provide financial assistance for:

  • convening wildfire preparedness events,

  • enabling on-the-ground community fire risk mitigation work, or

  • developing grant proposals for the sustainable longevity of their Fire Adapted Community endeavor.

Applications with be accepted through August 3, 2026.
*Select applications with strong justification may be considered for awards over $2,000. Fall 2026 projects will have a reporting deadline of January 15, 2027.

Apply Now
 

The Forest Stewards Youth Corps’ Fall Program is now hiring Crew Members and Crew Leaders ages 18-25 with Mountainair and Espanola/Santa Fe US Forest Service Districts, and Jemez Pueblo Natural Resource Department! Crews gain natural resource management experience, CPR and First Aid certifications, wildland firefighting and chainsaw certifications, and participate in prescribed burns when possible. The 13-week program will run from August 19th through November 13th. Crew Leads will begin the program a week earlier on August 13th.

Complete an online application through the flyer’s QR codes and find out more at Forest Stewards Youth Corps - Fall Fire and Fuels

Email apearson@forestguild.org or call (505) 795-2551 with any questions.

Click here to view the full position description
 

PRESS RELEASE:
U.S. Forest Service adds long-sought protections to limit health risks for wildland firefighters

On June 24, 2026, the Forest Service and the Department of the Interior announced new measures to better protect federal wildland firefighters from smoke and hazardous particulate exposure during the 2026 fire season. Federal wildland firefighters were authorized to use N95 respirators on the fireline after receiving formal training on their safe use in the wildland fire environment and standardized decontamination practices are being implemented such as gear cleaning, showers, and clean-air recovery. While no respirator currently meets OSHA standards for wildland firefighting, these interim measures aim to reduce immediate and long-term health risks caused by smoke and poor air quality. The announcement reinforces a commitment to improving firefighter health and safety, both now and for the long-term.

See the NIFC Health and Wellbeing program “Tools to Minimize Occupational Hazards” page for a link to the training, as well as discussion of how and when respirators should be used—or not used.

 

Join the Southwest Fire Science Consortium tomorrow July 9 at 12PM MDT to learn about a new multi-scale bird population modeling framework based on climate signals through vegetation which indicates that avian species across the Kaibab National Forest are expected to experience population decline across climate scenarios.

To register, click this link: Accelerating Losses -Meeting Registration

Wildfire Wednesday #187: Honoring, Celebrating, and Remembering Wildland Firefighters

Happy Wednesday FACNM community,

Next Thursday, July 2nd, marks National Wildland Firefighter Day which takes place during the annual Wildland Firefighter Week of Remembrance. This day is “an opportunity to honor wildland firefighters and fire support personnel, whose contributions to public safety and the safeguarding of natural resources are often unseen by the public” (National Interagency Fire Center). In the somber context of Week of Remembrance, when wildland firefighters remember lives lost and review lessons learned from fatality fires, National Wildland Firefighter Day reminds us to appreciate those who risk their lives to protect our landscapes and communities. This Wildfire Wednesday is not only an opportunity to thank dedicated wildland firefighters and support staff, but also a chance to share ways that your community can celebrate their service protecting the people and places we love and remember those who are no longer with us.

This Wildfire Wednesday features:

Wishing you a happy solstice and official start of summer,
Megan

Week of Remembrance - June 30 through July 6

Wildland Firefighter Week of Remembrance, observed annually from June 30 to July 6, is a time for the wildland fire community and the public to honor wildland firefighters who have lost their lives protecting our communities from wildfire. It is also a time to acknowledge the risks they face in the line of duty, including extreme heat, rapidly changing fire conditions, dangerous terrain, smoke inhalation, and more that contribute to both short- and long-term impacts. Longer term mental health and stress impacts are also increasingly being recognized as a risk faced by those on the fire line.

Wildland Firefighter Week of Remembrance begins on June 30, the anniversary of the 2013 Yarnell Hill Fire in Arizona, where 19 members of the Granite Mountain Hotshots lost their lives when extreme fire behavior cut off their escape route. The week concludes on July 6, the anniversary of the 1994 Storm King Mountain Fire in Colorado, which claimed the lives of 14 firefighters. Week of Remembrance provides agencies across the nation with an opportunity to reflect on the lessons learned from past fatality fires, honor the sacrifices of fallen firefighters, and recommit to the safety practices that help protect those who serve. It is also a time for all of us to remember those individuals who never returned home to their families and thank those who continue to answer the call to protect.

Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center

Observance of Week of Remembrance honors the fallen through learning and reinforces the importance of safety, training, and preparedness in wildfire response. The Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center is a reflection of the wildland fire community’s commitment to this “honor through learning” principle. The Center operates as a national, interagency, federally-funded organization to promote learning in wildland fire by providing useful products and services that help reveal the complexity and risk in the wildland fire environment.

The Center provides an annual incident review that summarizes incidents from the past year and provides a comprehensive look at resulting wildland fire-based lessons. Their Data Points publication summarizes events that have similar circumstances and provides a specific call to action, empowering fire leaders at all levels to take proactive measures based on the experience of others. The Center also runs a podcast and quarterly publication, Two More Chains, dedicated to sharing relevant lessons, unique perspectives, and features from the wildland fire community.

Listen to the Podcast on Apple Podcasts
Listen to the Podcast on Spotify
 

Honoring the Granite Mountain Hotshots

If you have spent any time in in the wildfire community of the Southwest, you have likely heard of “the 19,” which references the tragedy of the 19 men lost during the 2013 Yarnell Hill Fire. The Yarnell Hill Fire was a wildfire near Yarnell, Arizona, ignited by lightning on June 28, 2013. On June 30, it overran and killed 19 of the 20 members of the Granite Mountain Hotshots, a group of firefighters within the Prescott Fire Department. The Yarnell Hill Fire forced vital discussions about wildland firefighting strategies and tactics, ultimately resulting in a comprehensive report after the State of Arizona convened an investigation team to review the conditions and events leading to the circumstances of the entrapment and deaths of the members of Granite Mountain Hotshots.

Download the Yarnell Hill Serious Accident Investigation Report

Following memorial services, the Granite Mountain Hotshots Memorial State Park was dedicated in 2016 as a place to remember the 19 fallen members of the Granite Mountain Hotshots. The park includes a 7-mile roundtrip hike - an opportunity to pay respects to the 19 firefighters and better understand the experience and landscape in which they lost their lives. The Granite Mountain Interagency Hotshot Learning and Tribute Center opened in 2018; the center is described as a “one-of-a kind wildland fire learning center that honors the legacy of the Granite Mountain Hotshots by educating, inspiring and motivating visitors to adopt behaviors that prevent wildland fires, resulting in fewer fire-related fatalities.”

The tragedy of the Yarnell Hill Fire has also been the subject of extensive reflection and storytelling in the years since the incident. Several books have chronicled the experiences of the Granite Mountain Hotshots and the events surrounding the fire, helping to preserve the lessons learned and honor those who were lost. In 2017, the feature film Only the Brave brought their story to a wider audience, providing an opportunity for the public to reflect on the sacrifices of wildland firefighters and gain a deeper understanding of the risks they face in the line of duty.

  • McDonough authored the 2017 book “Granite Mountain: The Firsthand Account of a Tragic Wildfire, Its Lone Survivor, and the Firefighters Who Made the Ultimate Sacrifice.”

  • Fernanda Santos, who covers Arizona and New Mexico as the Phoenix bureau chief for The New York Times, penned the 2017 book “The Fire Line: The Story of the Granite Mountain Hotshots.”

  • Kyle Dickman wrote “On the Burning Edge: A Fateful Fire and the Men Who Fought It,” in 2015.

National Wildland Firefighter Day - July 2

In 2022, National Wildland Firefighter Day was founded to recognize all federal, state, and local wildland firefighters and support staff who coordinate their efforts to protect the nation's wildlands.

The individuals who work to save lives, property, infrastructure, and precious natural and cultural resources every year deserve incredible gratitude for their professional skills and efforts. Past National Wildland Firefighter Day events have included in-person and virtual Fireline 5Ks, representation at professional sporting events, proclamations by state officials, and more. If you are looking for ways to celebrate National Wildland Firefighter Day in your community, the National Interagency Fire Center has provided many tools and templates to support and share.

  • National Wildland Firefighter Day Toolkit

    • NWFFD Toolkit PowerPoint has campaign instructions, ready-made and customizable graphics for social media, and downloadable virtual meeting backgrounds. National Wildland Firefighter Day | National Interagency Fire Center also has short video clips that highlight wildland firefighters and support personnel from federal, state, and local agencies across the country to share on social media.

    • Use #NationalWildlandFirefighterDay, #NWFFD, and #ThankAFirefighter when posting on social media.

  • NWFFD Activity Book

  • Enhance Firefighter Safety Through Prevention Best Practices

    • Wildfires require three key elements to burn: heat, oxygen, and fuel. Firefighters work to suppress fires by removing or limiting these elements, particularly available fuel. You can help reduce wildfire risk and support firefighter safety by taking proactive steps to protect your home and community. Create and maintain defensible space around your home by removing excess vegetation and other combustible materials. Consider hardening your home with fire-resistant materials. Encourage your family, friends, neighbors, and coworkers to take similar precautions.

    • Always fully extinguish campfires, fire pits, and outdoor fires before leaving the area, and never leave a fire unattended. If you observe an unattended fire, report it immediately by calling 911.

    • Never throw lit cigarettes or smoking materials from a vehicle. Even a small ember can ignite dry grass or vegetation and quickly start a wildfire.

    • Follow all local burn bans, fire restrictions, and public safety warnings. During periods of hot, dry, or windy weather, extra caution is essential to prevent accidental ignitions.

    • When traveling in areas affected by wildfire or smoke, stay informed by monitoring local alerts, road conditions, and emergency announcements. If you operate a drone or other aircraft, never fly near a wildfire. Unauthorized aircraft in the area can force firefighting aircraft to be grounded, delaying critical suppression efforts and putting firefighters and communities at greater risk.

Remember to thank a wildland firefighter, support staff member, or contractor for their dedication to protecting lives, property, and our natural and cultural resources. While their service deserves recognition every day, July 2 provides a dedicated opportunity to express your gratitude, especially during one of the busiest and most demanding periods of the fire year.

Additional Resources and Upcoming Opportunities

Job Opportunities

Project Forester with the NM Forestry Division - Chama District

New Mexico Forestry Division is hiring a Forester for the Chama District (San Juan County, Rio Arriba County and western half of Taos County) to develop and coordinate collaborative, cross-boundary forest restoration projects. This position is responsible for programs such as the Commercial Timber Harvest Program and assists the District Forester with Wildland - Urban Interface (WUI) projects. Duties include:

  • writing stewardship plans,

  • drafting and releasing requests for proposal (RFP),

  • issuing commercial timber harvest permits, and

  • reviewing commercial timber harvest applications.

Apply by June 30. To learn more about the position and apply, visit Careers.

Volunteer Fire Assistance Coordinator with the NM Forestry Division

New Mexico Forestry Division is hiring a volunteer fire assistance coordinator to provide assistance to local departments and increase their wildland fire suppression capabilities. This position will manage the Federal Volunteer Fire Assistance Grant Program and assist the Resource Protection Bureau and Assistant State and State Fire Management Officer by providing current information about fires within the state, including coordination and mobilization of both Division and local fire department resources in-state and out-of-state for wildland fire suppression activity.

Apply by June 30. To learn more about the position and apply, visit Careers.

 

Continuing Education: The Fire Department Exchange (FDX) Program

The Fire Department Exchange (FDX) Program facilitates in-person exchanges for fire departments facing wildland-urban interface (WUI) challenges. The 3-day, in‑person information exchange will focus on real-world wildfire mitigation, preparedness, and response in the WUI. Led by experienced wildfire subject matter experts, the exchange emphasizes candid dialogue, shared experience, and practical application rather than traditional lectures.

Apply by June 25th to send two fire service personnel to the next Fire Department Exchange in Red Lodge, Montana, September 21 – 25, 2026!

 

Reforestation Resources: Conservation Seedling Program Distribution Opening Soon

New Mexico Forestry Division provides low‑cost seedlings for planting projects that support forest and watershed health in New Mexico. Ordering for the Conservation Seedling Program's fall distribution will open on July 6th, 2026 through the online ordering platform. Seedlings ordered during this window will be distributed in October, 2026. Seedlings may be used for ecological restoration, wind protection, erosion control, wood products, tree farms, and planting or up-potting for urban or community forestry needs.

Note: Forestry Division does not anticipate offering seedlings for the Spring 2027 distribution but are accepting order requests for Fall 2027 and Spring 2028 distribution.

  • Early requests help Forestry Division source the species and quantities needed to support your conservation goals.

  • Share your needs using the advance request form: Seedling Request Form

To learn more about seedling selection and ordering, visit Conservation Seedling Program - Forestry.

 

Article: Rising Wildfire Costs Are Straining State Finances

In recent years, states across the West have experienced wildfire seasons that far exceeded budgets originally allocated for firefighting efforts. This growing financial strain is concerning to many, especially as ongoing drought conditions and reduced snowpack will contribute to increasingly severe fire seasons that may require at least twice the available funding. Read this article to learn how states across the West are seeking to address these challenges, including funding for wildfire-specific accounts and identifying new sources of revenue to support firefighting and prevention efforts, with examples from Hawaii, Montana, Oregon, Idaho, and Utah.

 

Join the Southwest Fire Science Consortium to learn about a new multi-scale modelling framework that produces future projections for bird populations based on climate signals through vegetation for five climate scenarios. Attendees will learn that of 18 focal species present on the Kaibab National Forest in Arizona, USA, 11 are projected to decline by mid-century. Population simulations which only looked at fire as a disturbance factor produced markedly smaller bird population effects, demonstrating that climate-driven vegetation type shifts, not altered fire regimes alone, are the dominant driver of projected losses.

Register Now

Wildfire Wednesday #186: Beaver Benefits for Wildfire Resilience

Hello FACNM community,

Today’s Wildfire Wednesday is inspired by the revitalization of Women Owning Woodlands (WOW) programming here in New Mexico. Last month, a group of women landowners, conservationists, and land management professionals gathered in El Rito, New Mexico, to tour a beaver dam complex along El Rito Creek. During the field visit, participants learned not only about the many ecological benefits beavers provide, including improved water storage and enhanced fish habitat, but also beaver’s ability to enhance wildfire resilience. At the same time, attendees discussed sources of human–beaver conflict and their desire for opportunities to promote better coexistence. In today’s blog, we highlight the benefits of beaver activity and examine the growing evidence that beavers are increasingly being considered allies in wildfire adaptation.

This Wildfire Wednesday features:

Stay safe and be vigilant,
Megan

Beaver Restoration as Climate Adaptation

Benefits of Beaver on the Landscape

Beavers are often described as ecosystem engineers because of their ability to reshape landscapes. Using wood, stones, and mud, beavers construct dams that transform narrow stream channels into ponds, wetlands, and complex riparian habitats. In addition to building dams, beavers dig networks of channels that extend from their ponds into the surrounding floodplain. These channels help distribute water across the landscape, increasing soil moisture and creating conditions that support a wide variety of plants and wildlife.

By slowing the flow of water, beaver dams allow more water to infiltrate into the ground, helping to recharge shallow groundwater supplies. This stored water is gradually released back into the surrounding environment, providing a more consistent source of moisture for riparian vegetation, particularly during dry periods. As a result, plants growing near beaver ponds often experience less water stress during drought than vegetation in streams without beaver activity. A study conducted in Nevada found that riparian areas influenced by beaver dams were better able to maintain vegetation productivity during both short-term and prolonged droughts compared to similar areas without beaver activity.

Watch this video for a brief history on why beavers were eradicated from the landscape, their ability to lessen the effects of drought, and how humans are helping reintroduce beaver into stream systems.

Beaver dams not only help reduce the impacts of drought, but wetlands created by beaver also provide important climate benefits. Wetlands are highly efficient at capturing carbon from the atmosphere and storing it in waterlogged soils, where decomposition occurs more slowly. As a result, wetlands can accumulate and retain large amounts of carbon over long periods, making them a valuable tool for mitigating climate change.

Beaver-created wetlands are also especially important for aquatic ecosystems. The ponds, side channels, and slow-moving waters associated with beaver complexes provide critical habitat for many fish species, particularly salmon and trout. Fallen trees, branches, and other woody material incorporated into beaver structures create shelter from predators and strong currents, offering refuge for juvenile fish as they grow. The deeper pools formed by beaver dams can also provide cooler water temperatures during hot summer months, helping fish survive periods of heat and low streamflow.

Beavers Reduce Wildfire Impacts

Beaver activity not only creates landscapes that are more resilient to drought-related stress, but ponds and wetland systems created by beaver reduce the impacts of wildfire. The wetlands and riparian corridors sustained by beaver dams maintain higher soil moisture, support greener vegetation, and create natural breaks in the continuity of flammable fuels across the landscape. As a result, these areas are often more resistant to burning than surrounding upland habitats.

Evidence for this effect comes from a 2020 study by Fairfax and Whittle, which examined the impacts of five large wildfires. The researchers found that riparian corridors with beaver damming were significantly less affected by wildfire than comparable stream corridors without beaver activity. Using satellite-derived Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) data—a measure of vegetation greenness and productivity, with higher NDVI values indicating greener vegetation—they determined that beaver-influenced areas consistently maintained significantly higher NDVI values.

“The scaled NDVI differences in sections of creek that did not have beaver were on average more than three times as affected by fire as areas that had beaver.”
— Fairfax, E., and A. Whittle. 2020.

Figure from Fairfax, E. and Whittle, A. (2020), Smokey the Beaver: beaver‐dammed riparian corridors stay green during wildfire throughout the western USA.

Photograph of vegetation response to wildfire in adjacent creeks with and without beaver damming during the Manter Fire in California.

Fairfax and Whittle’s results indicated that beaver damming played a significant role in protecting riparian vegetation during wildfires. However, they also found that the ability for a burned riparian area to recover after fire was not dependent on beaver activity. Overall, the findings suggest that water stored within beaver-dammed systems creates conditions that are less conducive to burning. In essence, these wet landscapes are energetically unfavorable to ignite and sustain fire, much like trying to start a campfire with damp wood.

Case Study: 2018 Sharps Fire

In 2018, the Sharps Fire burned about 65,000 acres, including large portions of the Baugh Creek watershed, which originates in the Pioneer Mountains of south-central Idaho. Baugh Creek was established as a relocation site for beavers that were considered a nuisance in populated areas of Idaho. Beavers began to pond water in the creek by building dams, resulting in wide patches of green vegetation surrounding creek banks. After the fire in 2018, areas where beaver had created wetland complexes remained vibrant green amid a sea of brown, burned land leading the area to be called an “emerald refuge” because of its resilience to fire

Aerial view of the wetlands around Baugh Creek after the fire.

These ribbons of fire-resistant riparian habitat created by beaver activity can serve as important refuges for wildlife during and after wildfire events. For species that cannot easily escape advancing flames, beaver-influenced wetlands can provide shelter and access to water. Fish, amphibians, small mammals, birds, reptiles, and invertebrates may use these areas as temporary refugia while surrounding upland habitats burn. Following a wildfire, these wet corridors can also act as sources for recolonization, supporting the recovery of wildlife populations. By creating and maintaining patches of moist, resilient habitat across the landscape, beavers help enhance both wildfire resilience and biodiversity in fire-prone ecosystems.

Landowner Support to Co-exist with Beaver

Protecting Trees

Beavers chop down trees for food and to build dams, and yet, protecting trees from beaver chewing is a very common concern for homeowners. While beaver trapping is a legal option, there are ways to protect selected trees without destroying the beavers and their wetland ecosystem. The Beaver Institute recommends a few techniques that are inexpensive, reliable, and relatively easy to implement almost immediately, including:

  • Fencing - Individual trees can be spared from beaver gnawing by placing wire cylinders around the base of their trunks.

  • Sand-Paint - Mixing exterior latex paint with mason or playground sand and applying it to the bottom three to four feet of tree trunk will dissuade beaver from chewing trees.

  • Taste Aversive Materials - Infuse vegetable or mineral oil with cayenne pepper and then paint on the tree trunks as a means of preventing beaver chewing.

Beaver Dam Flooding

As beavers build dams to create ponds for their own safety and habitat, serious flooding problems can occur for people. Fortunately, most beaver ponds can be safely controlled without having to trap or relocate the beaver using what’s known as a flow device. A flow device, typically made with fencing, pipes, or both, controls beaver damming to prevent flooding issues with humans.

A Flexible Pond Leveler pipe system can be a one effective solution. This flow device will create a permanent leak through the beaver dam that the beavers cannot stop, eliminating the need for repeated trapping

Download this self-help pond leveler installation guide

Beavers are also attracted to road culverts and other drainage structures because with a little work, they can create a large pond. There are multiple cost-effective flow devices that can protect culverts, sluiceways and drains from beaver damming. Learn more about three flow devices that protect drainage devices from beaver damming based on the specific site characteristics: Blocked Road Culverts and Drains.

Landowner Cost-Share Grants

With funding from the Animal Welfare Institute and others, Beaver Institute has created a grant program to financially incentivize landowners to avoid beaver removal, and/or encourage beaver occupancy at a site. The grant allows landowners to hire BeaverCorps professionals to nonlethally resolve beaver issues and restore wetlands. Any individual, town, business, or organization in North America interested in hiring a BeaverCorps Professional to nonlethally resolve conflicts or restore wetlands can apply.

Learn more and find a BeaverCorps Professional
 

Additional Resources about Wildlife and Wildfire

The Intersection of Pollinators and Bird Habitat with Forest Treatment and Prescribed Burns

The Greater Santa Fe Fireshed Coalition published two briefing papers produced by the Forest Stewards Guild based on research from Coalition partners that detail 1) the importance of insect pollinators in a fire-adapted ecosystem and 2) detail the intersection of bird habitat and forest restoration in the Southwest. Read these short, two-page briefing papers to learn more about how birds fared after thinning treatments and prescribed fire, as well as the pros and cons of differing fire severity on pollinator communities and hummingbirds.

 

Integrating wildlife goals and wildland fire management in southwestern forests

The Southwest Fire Science Consortium developed a fact sheet, based on the experience of more than 250 fire and wildlife professionals, that lists nine of the most persistent challenges and provides 36+ practical approaches to help align wildlife conservation and fire management. The fact sheet describes each challenge and presents at least three approaches per challenge that are working to combat the disconnect between wildlife and fire management. Some of the challenges include:

  • Wildlife and Fire Speak Different Languages

  • Fire Planning doesn’t always fit Wildlife Needs

  • Public Misunderstanding can be Limiting

  • Compliance Anxiety and Bureaucracy can Slow Action

 

Wildlife and fire perspectives and effects

In the first webinar of a series hosted by Rocky Mountain Research Station, a panel of experts discuss and share their experiences with fire effects on wildlife, managing for habitat in controlled burning, and different mindsets in the fire and wildlife discussion. Hear from Jonathan Grassmick, the Director of Ranch Properties for the Pueblo of Sandia, about what can be learned from comparing game camera pictures in a fuel break project in a wildlife corridor.

 

Forestry for the Birds

Forestry for the Birds uses the best available science on avian ecology and sustainable forest management to offer strategies for creating bird habitat in contemporary forests. This approach, on public and private forest lands, underscores the interconnectedness of forest ecosystems and the importance of managing them for multiple values, including biodiversity conservation. Although no programs are active in New Mexico, guides created for Minnesota, Central Appalachian Forests, and Western Oregon can serve as a starting point to adapt the framework to the distinct needs and opportunities of the Southwest.

Learn how the Forestry for the Birds program encourages a partnership between wildlife biologists and foresters that helps promote thoughtful silviculture to enhance forest bird habitat and bring value back to the landowner.

The Spark: Wildfire Preparedness is Year Round (June)

June 2026 Edition

Please feel encouraged to adapt and share these materials through your own channels.

About The Spark

The Spark: Wildfire Preparedness is Year-Round is a unified, statewide messaging campaign that promotes year-round wildfire preparedness through consistent and coordinated outreach each month. It is produced by a core group of partners, including FACNM, BLM–New Mexico, NM State Forestry Division, USDA Forest Service Southwestern Region, Forest Stewards Guild, US Department of Interior, and the New Mexico Forest and Watershed Restoration Institute (NMFWRI).

The bulletin below is designed to communicate wildfire topics to broad audiences. This month’s issue features the story of a New Mexico teenager who joined her local volunteer fire department at 14 and highlights the ongoing need by departments for more support as rural volunteer departments are often first on scene for fires, car crashes, and other emergencies in remote areas across the state.

Download the Bulletin
Download an accessible, readable version of the bulletin
Download a print friendly version of the Bulletin

To view The Spark’s main page and view archived Wildfire Preparedness is Year-Round messaging, click here: The Spark: Wildfire Preparedness is Year Round — Fire Adapted NM

Wildfire Wednesday #185: the Science of Resilience

Happy Wildfire Wednesday, FAC readers!

“Best available science”, a term you may have heard tossed around by land managers or fire practitioners, refers to the most reliable, valid, up-to-date, and relevant empirical knowledge in any given field. In the field of Wildfire Preparedness (or Wildfire Resilience), staying up to date on the latest science may feel like it requires a lot of time and attention. However, with a changing climate and continuously evolving vegetation patterns, outdated assumptions or science can render traditional mitigation strategies ineffective. Continuously updating our understanding of the science of fire resilience not only helps us be better prepared - it is crucial for shifting from reactive firefighting to a proactive sustainable coexistence with fire. Today’s newsletter highlights some recent research on Wildfire Resilience and dives into a trove of additional resources.

This Wildfire Wednesday features:

Warm regards,
Rachel

The Science of Resilience: new publications on the topic

Wildfire Resilience Index

“Wildfire resilience is a goal everyone agrees on, but there’s been no shared, quantitative way to measure it.” In the Fire Networks blog post “You Can Now Look Up Your Community’s Wildfire Resilience Score," the authors introduce a new tool for communities to measure wildfire resilience at a landscape scale, with an accompanying dashboard at wildfireindex.org. The creators of the Wildfire Resilience Index (WRI) discuss how the tool looks at both resistance and recovery across eight socio-ecological domains. Explore the dashboard to see how your community compares.

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Building Codes & Resilience

In the article "2026’s Fire Season Is a Warning Light: Building Wildfire Resilience Beyond ‘Fire Season’” from the Building Safety Journal, the authors discuss how considering wildfire a seasonal concern is a) becoming less accurate and b) results in the ideas that it is something to merely respond to seasonally, rather than to build in resilience for. "Wildfire risk has always been seasonal in the sense that fuels dry and ignition patterns change through the year. But the idea of a predictable, bounded “season” is less useful when national outlooks describe meaningful fire potential outside traditional windows" (as is often the case in our current climate). "If 'fire season' is treated as a temporary disruption, the default posture becomes reactive—extra staffing, restrictions, public messaging—then a return to baseline. Resilience, by contrast, is built into the community’s DNA through land use decisions, construction requirements and defensible space practices that persist beyond any one summer."

The key components of the IWUIC include: 1. Ignition-Resistant Construction; 2. Defensible Space; 3. Emergency Vehicle Access; 4. Water Supply; 5. Fire Sprinklers; 6. Chimneys with Spark Arrestors

"Wildfire becomes catastrophic for communities when it transitions from a vegetation fire to a structure ignition and neighborhood-to-neighborhood spread problem. That transition happens under extreme weather and fuel conditions, but it is mediated by the vulnerabilities of buildings, parcels and neighborhood layouts… Embers exploit openings and weak points: vents, eaves, under-deck areas, roof edges and combustible materials within the immediate perimeter of structures. Neighborhood-scale factors, such as housing density, attached fences and continuity of combustible landscaping, can turn isolated ignitions into rapid structure-to-structure spread.

"When communities recognize wildfire as a built environment problem, they naturally begin asking different questions - both related to building codes, and related to operational community function." So, in moving from “forecast” to “foundation”, what can communities do now?

  1. Define and map the WUI—then align policy to it 

  2. Reduce the dominant ignition pathways 

  3. Treat defensible space as a life-safety buffer, not landscaping advice 

  4. Build resilience that compounds 

Read the article to learn more

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Each dollar invested in fuel treatments yields results

A new peer-reviewed study analyzed 285 wildfires between 2017 and 2023 that intersected with at least one fuel treatment completed between 2007 and 2023. The study integrated data on wildfires, fuel treatments, suppression efforts, and damages across the Western United States, finding that fuel treatments reduced wildfire spread and severity, avoiding an estimated $2.8 billion in damages. This study estimates that each dollar invested in fuel treatments yields $3.73 in expected benefits, underscoring the importance of investing more in preventive forest management. These results differ slightly in the estimated return on investment but otherwise align with the 2024 meta-analysis findings that each dollar invested yields a 600% return. The difference likely owes to the fact that the new research “only captur[es] a specific subset of benefits”, while the 2024 research was more robust in its analysis.

The research also found that larger treatments—those covering more than 2,400 acres—were the most cost effective. Read a summary of the study’s findings here: Every dollar spent on forest fuel treatments saves $3.75 in wildfire damages, study finds.

 

Additional Resources and Upcoming Opportunities

Resources for Community Members and Leaders

Aesthetics meets Fire Resistance: a guide for landscaping

Fire Safe Marin has produced “Fire Smart Yards: A Visual Guide for Landscapers / Una Guía Visual Para Paisajistas,” a bilingual resource that covers the why and how of landscaping in Zone 0 and beyond. It succintly and accurately describes important topics and areas of the house, with recommendations for Zone 0 (0-5' from structures), Plant Spacing, Mulching, Tree Care, Privacy Screening, and Plant Choice. Most of the recommendations are relevant across geographies and provide an excellent resource for homeowners or landscapers who are cautious about defensible space or don't know where to start.

 
 

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Smoke Info

The Southwest Fire Science Consortium has created a new social media kit about wildland and prescribed fire smoke. The kit includes nine messages with versions for both short-form social media (e.g. X, Bluesky) and long-form (Facebook, Instagram, LinkeIn), plus additional background information, resources, and notes on smoke research. Topics covered include: What is Wildfire Smoke; Who is at risk; How to know whether air quality is harmful; Differences between prescribed fire and wildfire smoke; and Resources to stay safe. For more information on smoke, refer to the FACNM resources page and Wildfire Wednesday #183.

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Snakebite avoidance SOPs

A new blog post from The Wildfire Lessons Learned Center, “Best Practices Around Snakes for Wildland Firefighters,” includes tips for avoiding close encounters, and an image of a pocket guide on managing a bite. Some key takeaways include:

  • Snake bites typically occur because someone’s situational awareness is down, as in not watching where they step or not noticing the snake because of it blending into its surroundings.

  • A snake’s temperament can vary from each individual snake and species.

  • Snake activity typically starts in the springtime during the day, then becomes more active at night during the hotter months. Be mindful in canyons, washes, rock piles, the base of shrubs, and under parked vehicles.

  • Snake encounters typically happen in passing. 

  • If a facility has a rodent problem, keep in mind that this can attract snakes, both venomous and nonvenomous.

 

Geospatial Data

New Mexico treatment and buffer map

New Mexico State Forestry Division developed an interactive map that highlights completed, ongoing, and historical mitigation treatments across the state and also identifies communities that could benefit from future mitigation efforts. The map provides detailed information for each community, including average wildfire risk, how that risk ranking compares to communities statewide, and estimated structure density for the community. Communities represented by a circle on the map are considered in the top 100 communities at risk in New Mexico.

 

Career and Funding Opportunities

New Mexico Forest and Watershed Restoration Institute’s Career Connects newsletter details open positions, scholarships and grant opportunities, learning opportunities, and more. The May 20 edition included:

 

Art X Fire Exhibition

Disturbance is a new interdisciplinary initiative by The Paseo Project, Del Fuego, and the Forest Stewards Guild, that brings artists, scientists, and community members together to examine wildfire as both a destabilizing force and a generative ecological process. The exhibition of finished projects—ranging from installation and sculpture to media-based and participatory works—will be brought together for the public opening of Disturbance on August 28, 2026, launching a multi-month exhibition and program series in Taos.

The project began with a call that brought together a cohort of artists who participated in a Northern New Mexico–based Fire Ecology Boot Camp this past April, where artists were paired with fire practitioners, ecologists, land stewards, and community knowledge holders. Through shared learning, field visits to burn scars and post-fire landscapes, and sustained dialogue, the boot camp established a common foundation from which new creative work will emerge. The artists are now in the process of developing new works responding to the ecological, cultural, and emotional dimensions of wildfire.

Throughout the fall, Disturbance will continue to unfold through community-centered programming, including artist-led workshops, public conversations, youth-focused engagements, educational partnerships, and additional events designed to invite reflection, dialogue, and shared learning.

 

Webinars

RestoreNet is a restoration field trial network co-produced by scientists and land managers that, since 2017, has systematically produced and tested restoration treatments across a growing network of 23 sites spanning environmental gradients in the Southwest U.S.. RestoreNet treatments include use of different seed mixes, periods of seeding, outplanting greenhouse-grown seedlings, soil surface modifications, soil microbial inoculations, seedballs, and targeted livestock grazing. Presenter Laura Shriver with the USGS Southwest Biological Science Center will summarize lessons learned from RestoreNet over the past nine years and distill results into best management practices for land managers and restoration practitioners across the Southwest.

Register Now

Wildfire Wednesday #184: Mental Health Awareness

Happy Fire Friday, Fire Adapted New Mexico!

In many areas, May is Wildfire Awareness Month; as the weather becomes warmer and wildland vegetation, or fuels, begin to dry out, it’s time to get ready for wildfires. Preparing our homes and communities for fire entails many of the things that we discuss regularly in this newsletter - signing up for local emergency alerts, gathering “go” bags with all of the essentials (see page 6 for details), making or reviewing your evacuation plan, and working on your defensible space and home hardening - but it also means getting mentally and emotionally prepared for the fire season ahead.

Today’s newsletter focuses on a part of holistic fire preparation which generally doesn’t garner as much attention by shining a light on May as Mental Health Awareness Month. These resources are intended to help firefighters, community organizers, and individuals work to prepare themselves for the stress that fire season can put on our wellbeing.

This Wildfire Wednesday features:

Take care,
Rachel

Mental Health Care and Awareness

Fire impacts everyone

Stock photo
Credit: Boyloso

Wildfires, like other natural disasters and traumatic events, take a toll on the mental health of those directly affected and in the community. Whether the impact is the loss of a home, having to flee unexpectedly, dealing with the uncertainty of a fire’s path or worrying over smoke-filled skies, wildfires can lead to emotional distress. The Substance Abuse and Mental health Services Agency notes that feelings such as “overwhelming anxiety, constant worrying, trouble sleeping, and other depression-like symptoms are common responses before, during, and after wildfires” (APA, 2024). Within 48 hours of exposure to wildfire smoke, people (especially women, girls, and the elderly) are more likely to visit the emergency room for an anxiety condition (Zhu et al, 2024) and researchers have observed an increase in the use of antidepressants, anxiolytics, and mood stabilizers within six weeks of a nearby fire (Wettstein and Vaidyanathan, 2024). The impacts can be even more chronic - individuals exposed to fire may experience cognitive impacts, including a diminished ability to concentrate and other chronic symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and depression, up to a year after the fire exposure (Grennan et al., 2023).

Impacts on fire personnel

Firefighting, especially wildland firefighting, is a demanding occupation with many challenges: injuries and worker’s compensation challenges, long and irregular hours, housing difficulties, low pay that requires working significant overtime to make a living. It takes a lot physically (as exemplified by total daily energy expenditures that can exceed 6000 calories/day) while coping with complex physical and environmental situations (heat, altitude, chronic smoke exposure, compromised sleep and fatigue, elevated stress). These conditions challenge thermoregulatory responses, impair recovery, and increase short- and long-term injury/health risks. The occupation also imposes emotional strain on both firefighters and their families.

The long-term implications of wildfire management and suppression on the physical and mental health of wildland firefighters are significant, especially as the frequency and intensity of wildland fire outbreaks and the duration of the fire season is growing. Additionally, physical and mental challenges build off of one another - the occupational stresses experienced during a season (inconsistent sleep and diet, smoke, emotional stress, and changing levels of fitness) interact and may lead to slower performance recovery and deterioration of metabolic health after the fire season ends (Ruby et al., 2023). Some long-term clinical health impacts that have been observed include increased emergency room visits, suicidal ideation or behavior, higher rates of miscarriage, substance abuse or dependancy, PTSD, depression, and anxiety. The fireline is a workplace that pushes people to their limits - and sometimes beyond them - and the toll that this takes is a topic which is finally gaining international attention.

Resources for wellbeing

General Resources:

  • Follow these steps

    • Take care of your body. Try to eat healthy, exercise regularly, get plenty of sleep, and avoid alcohol and other drugs. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) 

    • Connect. Share your feelings with a friend or family member. Maintain relationships and rely on your support system. SAMHSA 

    • Be kind to yourself. Some feelings when witnessing a disaster may be difficult to accept. You may feel relief that the disaster did not reach you, or you may feel guilt that you were left untouched when so many were affected. Both feelings are common. American Psychology Association (APA) 

    • Take breaks. Make time to unwind. Try to return to activities that you enjoy. Although you’ll want to keep informed—especially if you have loved ones affected by the disasters—take a break from watching the news. SAMHSA / APA 

    • Ask for help. Talk to a counselor, doctor, or clergy member, or contact a crisis helpline such as the SAMHSA Disaster Distress Hotline at (800) 985-5990.  

  • APA - Recovering emotionally after a residential fire: this website provides background information and context as well as resources for recovery and coping. While it focuses on residential fire, many of the suggestions are applicable across areas of impact.

  • Helping Children Deal with Disaster: several resources are available for parents and caregivers helping children navigate a fire. The NTCSN guide on Preparing Children after a Wildfire Damages Your Community offers guidance on deciding whether or not a child should return to their home or neighborhood after it was damaged in a wildfire. FEMA offers a guidebook on Helping Children Cope with Disaster. For more information, call the FEMA publications warehouse at 1-800-480-2520. Additional resources can be found at the Department of Homeland Security’s Ready.gov and the National Child Traumatic Stress Network.

  • People may experience an emotional "high" after a disaster due to survival and communities coming together. The emotional "lows" may come later and can be triggered months or years after the event. For a detailed chart and an interesting article on this, visit the OperationSAFE website.

  • Disaster Distress Helpline: provides year-round, 24/7 phone and text-based crisis counseling for anyone experiencing emotional distress related to natural or man-made disasters. Those impacted by recent wildfires and experiencing distress can reach out for support. Call 1-800-985-5990 or text "TalkWithUs" to 66746 or "Hablanos" to 66746 for Spanish.

  • Crisis Text Line: Free, confidential mental health support for those struggling with anxiety, stress, or trauma due to the fires. Text HOME to 741741.

Fire personnel-specific resources:

  • Hotshot Wellness: this Oregon-based nonprofit works to advance the health and wellness of wildland firefighters through health-focused advocacy, education, programs, and scholarships. They host a wellness library with resources for fire professionals, connect practitioners with medical professionals, offer adventure retreats and advocacy, and more.

  • Federal Wildland Firefighter Health and Wellbeing Program: this program supports wildland fire personnel across the US Departments of Agriculture and the Interior. The program is currently developing more comprehensive resources across Behavioral, Environmental and Occupational, and Physical Health and Readiness to better serve federal and Tribal wildland firefighters. Learn about their mental health support, expanded therapy services, and refer to their list of health and wellbeing contacts.

  • FUSEE: Firefighters United for Safety, Ethics, and Ecology (FUSEE) has fostered a vibrant online community of fire practitioners; it also hosts resources for firefighter wellbeing, including job-specific mental health providers, educational resources, a library of meditations, and annual retreats. They are also hosting a Firefighter Wellness Program Art Contest with submissions due by June 21, 2026.

  • Wildland Firefighter Foundation: the goal of the Foundation’s Mental Health Program is to promote the mental health and overall wellbeing of wildland firefighters and to address the unique mental health challenges faced by wildland firefighters, while providing confidential and immediate care to those in need. It provides resources and answers to frequently asked questions for those struggling with mental health, as well as the people who love and support them.

  • Cancer resources:

    • Over half of all firefighters may develop cancer. The Firefighter Cancer Support Network provides resources for fire personnel and retirees who are faced with a cancer diagnosis.

    • Firefighters, especially those who engage with structure fires, are at a higher risk of being diagnosed with mesothelioma, a rare cancer caused from exposure to asbestos that takes 20-50 years to develop. This guide provides information about mesothelioma that you may need to know when working as a firefighter.

    • Learn about the Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act, a piece of federal legislation passed in late 2025 which financially covers service-related cancers for firefighters who die or are permanently disabled as a result of the disease.

Additional Resources

Trauma-Informed Communications Kit

This guide provides an overview of trauma and describes trauma-informed techniques that facilitators and participants can utilize during community education events, particularly in areas affected by wildfire. It will be permanently stored and available on the Resources for Fire Professionals and Land Managers webpage. The kit includes:

  • Definitions and context to understand what trauma and trauma-informed are and what they mean

  • Descriptions of types of trauma

  • Step-by-step instructions for how to apply trauma-informed care techniques

  • Tips for how to self-regulate while interacting with individuals who have experienced trauma

View and download the guide

Webinars

The 2025 wildfire season in the Southwest featured a steady progression from early and mid-season incidents of limited duration into a set of larger, more complex fires that defined regional operations. Together, these fires concentrated regional suppression resources and marked the peak of the 2025 fire season, underscoring the cumulative operational challenges posed by simultaneous large fires in fuel-rich landscapes. This webinar from the Southwest Fire Science Consortium will provide a review of the largest or most impactful fires of the 2025 Southwest fire season, including trends, impacts, and takeaways from our tactics and response. The presenters will also offer a 2026 fire season outlook based on the most up-to-date forecast from the NOAA predictive services.

Register for the 5/19 webinar


Post-Fire Assessment and Recovery training webinar series

We are halfway through this six-part series on post-fire assessment and recover for foresters and land managers from the Washington DNR, Okanogan Conservation District, and Washington State Conservation Commission Center for Technical Development (wactd.org). Recordings of the webinars will be posted to the CDT’s website later this year.

📅 Webinar Schedule:
April 22 – Post-Fire Hazard Assessments
April 29 – Using the LEAF Assessment Template
May 6 – Erosion Assessment & Mitigation
May 13 – Debris Management & Danger Trees
May 20 – Building a Recovery Funding Portfolio
May 27 – Pre-Fire Recovery Planning

Learn more and register.

For Santa Fe County residents:
Santa Fe County Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) draft and updates: Wednesday, May 20, 2026 at 6pm MT

Southwest Environmental Consultants is hosting a public webinar on the draft Santa Fe County CWPP. This document is available for public review and comment until May 24.

Join the webinar

The Spark: Wildfire Preparedness is Year Round (May)

May 2026 Edition

Please feel encouraged to adapt and share these materials through your own channels.

About The Spark

The Spark: Wildfire Preparedness is Year-Round is a unified, statewide messaging campaign that promotes year-round wildfire preparedness through consistent and coordinated outreach each month. It is produced by a core group of partners, including FACNM, BLM–New Mexico, NM State Forestry Division, USDA Forest Service Southwestern Region, Forest Stewards Guild, US Department of Interior, and the New Mexico Forest and Watershed Restoration Institute (NMFWRI).

The bulletin below is designed to communicate wildfire topics to broad audiences, with this month focusing on burn bans and fire restrictions, and more on how to find out about current restrictions.

Download the Bulletin
Download an accessible, readable version of the bulletin
Download a Print Friendly Version of the Bulletin

To view The Spark’s main page and view archived Wildfire Preparedness is Year-Round messaging, click here: The Spark: Wildfire Preparedness is Year Round — Fire Adapted NM

Wildfire Wednesday #183: Preparing for Wildfire Smoke with Clean Air Solutions

Learning to live with fire also means learning to live with smoke. Communities are often evacuated when flames directly threaten homes and personal safety. However, communities that are not evacuated but remain near active fires can experience significant smoke impacts and poor air quality.

Wildfire smoke is not good for anyone to breathe, but it poses especially serious health risks for vulnerable residents, including infants, older adults, and those with pre-existing conditions such as asthma or heart disease. In some cases, these individuals may need to temporarily leave the area until conditions improve. At the same time, there are important steps communities can take to become more “smoke-ready.” Being smoke-ready includes preparing to create clean indoor air at home or work, and ensuring access to community clean air spaces where people can find relief during heavy smoke events.

Below, you can learn more about home air filtration options, community clean air centers (including those currently available in New Mexico), and how smoke-ready community efforts have been expanded in other states.

This Wildfire Wednesday features:

Stay safe FACNM community,
Megan

Wildfire Smoke and Health

Wildfire smoke contains a mixture of harmful pollutants, including gases and particles released as materials burn. The smallest particles—known as PM2.5 (particulate matter less than 2.5 microns in diameter)—are the most concerning for human health. Because of their tiny size, they can be inhaled deep into the lungs, affect respiratory and cardiovascular function, and even enter the bloodstream, triggering inflammation throughout the body.

Certain groups are especially vulnerable to the effects of smoke, including children, pregnant individuals, older adults, people with heart or lung conditions, and those with higher exposure levels, such as outdoor workers. Even for otherwise healthy individuals, wildfire smoke is unsafe to breathe, and the longer the exposure, the greater the risk.

Common symptoms of smoke exposure include coughing, shortness of breath, irritated eyes, runny nose, sore throat, headaches, fatigue, and in some cases, irregular heartbeat.

While we can’t control when smoke arrives or how long it lingers, there are steps you can take to reduce exposure and protect your health:

  • Limit the intensity and duration of outdoor activities

  • Stay indoors with windows and doors closed, and create clean indoor air

  • Avoid adding pollution indoors. Do not burn candles or incense, avoid smoking, and limit activities like stove-top cooking and vacuuming during smoky conditions

Create Clean Indoor Air

One of the best ways to reduce the impact of smoke is by reducing the amount of smoke that enters your home or workplace and filtering harmful particles from the air.

Indoor forced air systems

If you have a central air conditioning system in your building, set it to re-circulate or close outdoor air intakes to avoid drawing in smoky outdoor air.  Also, keep the furnace fan on by uncoupling it from the thermostat for continuous cleaning

Additionally, upgrade the filter efficiency of the heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system. Use the highest filter your system can handle. A MERV 13 or higher filter is best, but MERV 11 and 12 will still help clean indoor air. Also, keep extra filters on hand and changing filters frequently as they get dirty during smoke events greatly improves indoor air quality.  If your air systems cannot use a better filter, use portable air cleaners or DIY filter to clean individual rooms.

Filter your air

Smaller portable air cleaners are a great way to provide clean air in the areas where you spend most of your time. Essentially these are filters with an attached fan that draws air through the filter and cleans it. These cleaners can help reduce indoor particle levels, provided the specific air cleaner is properly matched to the size of the indoor environment in which it is placed.

Purchasing a HEPA portable air cleaner or a filter with a MERV rating of 13 or higher will help remove PM 2.5 from indoor air. When selecting a portable filter, the other rating to pay attention to is CADR or Clean Air Delivery Rate. This refers to the volume of air that passes through the unit. A CADR of 200 means the unit provides 200 cubic feet of clean air per minute, and often this number is equated to the room size that it will effectively purify the air in. In a 300 sq foot room a filter with a rating of 200 CADR will cycle the air through the filter 4-5 times per hour. While any filter will provide clean air, those with lower CADRs will simply work more slowly.

While purchasing a portable air cleaner may cost around $100-$200, making your own box fan filter can be a less costly option to filter air and improve indoor air quality in a single room or designated space. 

DIY BOX FAN FILTER MATERIALS:

  • 1 – 20” Box Fan

  • 1 -  20” x 20” x 1" MERV 13 electrostatic air filter. Note: MERV 11 or 12 will work, just not as well.

  • Tape or bungee cord to hold the filter in place

ASSEMBLY:

  1. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to assemble the Box Fan.

  2. Place the filter on the back of the fan with the airflow arrow pointing towards the fan. When the fan is turned on it should pull air through the filter.

  3. Secure the filter with tape or a bungee. Use masking or duct tape. Write the date when the filter is first used on the filter or tape.

*To improve the safety of a DIY filter, use a newer fan (2012 or newer) to minimize risk of burns and fire.

Face Masks

Only respirators such as N95s can filter out the fine particles in smoke. One-strap masks, paper surgical masks, or cloth masks and bandanas only filter out large particles and will not provide the filtration needed to protect you from smoke. If you must be outside, consider using an N95 or KN95 and make sure it seals close to your face. Masks should have two straps (one above the ear and one below) and should collapse as you breathe in, not letting air in on the sides to ensure they fit correctly.

View facnm.org/smoke to view additonal information and resources
 

Comunnity Clean Air Centers

One great step to take to becoming a more smoke ready community is identifying and setting up locations in your community that have cleaner, filtered air where residents can go for respite from smoky conditions. This is particularly important for people without air conditioning on hot smoky days, when staying indoors with windows closed can be hazardous.

A community clean air center is a designated public space, such as a community center, library, or other gathering place, equipped with HEPA filtration systems to provide a safe indoor refuge during wildfire smoke events or prolonged periods of poor air quality. Establishing one involves: 

  1. Selecting a central, accessible location that community members already use and trust. 

  1. Equipping the space with portable HEPA air cleaners sized appropriately for the building’s dimensions. 

  1. Maintaining the center by replacing filters and ensuring equipment is functional and in operation during times of poor air quality. 

  1. Outreach and education so residents know when the center is open and how it supports their health. 

The following image includes criteria that the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) has in their Clean Air Center Resource Guide to consider when selecting a site to set up a clean air center:

Clean air shelters are different from the above mentioned clean air centers. Shelters are typically set up in response to emergencies and are often staffed by volunteers or emergency personnel. These shelters may operate 24/7 and are designed to provide immediate, short-term relief for large numbers of people during critical events. Clean air centers, on the other hand, rely on existing community facilities—such as community centers, libraries, or senior centers—that are equipped in advance with air filtration systems. Rather than being activated as emergency shelters, they operate within the facility’s normal hours and serve as accessible, day-use spaces where residents can go to reduce smoke exposure. These centers can also be valuable hubs for information, where residents can learn about current air quality conditions, health impacts of smoke, and steps they can take to protect themselves and their families.

Operational practices for clean air centers can vary by program. For example, under guidance used in Montana, filtration systems in clean air centers are typically activated when outdoor air quality reaches an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 150 (“Unhealthy”) and remains at that level for more than 24 hours. Filtration continues until indoor air quality improves and consistently falls below an AQI of 100 (“Moderate”).

Clean Air Centers in NM

FACNM, with support from the Fire Adapted Communities Learning Network via a grant from an anonymous donor, has partnered with local communities in northern New Mexico to establish clean air centers. Working with the Angel Fire Fire Department and the Village of Angel Fire, as well as Santa Clara Pueblo Forestry and the Santa Clara Pueblo Senior Center, FACNM has helped equip two facilities with high-capacity HEPA air filtration systems. These centers will serve as community resources during smoke events beginning spring 2026.

Angel Fire Community Center

The Angel Fire Community Center is now equipped with two high-capacity HEPA air filtration units and a PurpleAir monitor, which provides real-time air quality data. These upgrades are part of FACNM’s broader effort to support smoke-ready communities and provide safe indoor spaces during periods of poor air quality.

View live AQI from the PurpleAir monitor attached to the Angel Fire Community Center: US EPA PM2.5 by PurpleAir



Santa Clara Pueblo Senior Center

The Santa Clara Pueblo Senior Center has also been outfitted with two high-capacity HEPA air filtration units. Installation of a PurpleAir monitor is planned and will further enhance the center’s ability to track and respond to changing air quality conditions.

These clean air centers offer residents a safer place to go during heavy smoke events, particularly for those who may not have access to effective air filtration at home.

For communities without a designated clean air center, residents can seek out public spaces with good ventilation and filtration systems, such as libraries, community centers, senior centers, and movie theaters. It’s a good idea to identify these locations in advance so you know where to go when air quality worsens.

Community clean air center success’s in other states

California

California created a map in collaboration with local air quality districts, to provide information about the location and services offered at Clean Air Centers in local communities statewide.

This map provides key details for each clean air center, including hours of operation, capacity, and contact information. A website and/or phone number is provided for each Clean Air Center so users can check with local facilities to see if they are activated and open to the public. This map serves as a strong example of a coordinated, statewide effort to both establish clean air spaces and ensure California residents know how to access them during smoke events.

Montana

In 2025, Clean Air Resource Centers were established in Missoula and Ravalli Counties with support from the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) and the EPA. Four centers were created in Missoula County and three in Ravalli County. Each location is equipped with a PurpleAir sensor to monitor real-time indoor air quality, helping ensure these spaces provide effective protection during smoke events.

Montana DPHHS also designed toolkits to provide resources to emergency responders, health officials, school personnel and daycare providers to ensure community safety during a wildfire smoke event. All materials can be shared and rebranded with your organization.

View Toolkits Here

Upcoming Opportunities

This webinar from the Southwest Fire Science Consortium will provide a review of the 2025 Southwest fire season, including trends, especially impactful individual incidents, and takeaways from the fires–and from our tactics and response. The presenters will also offer a 2026 fire season outlook based on the most up-to-date forecast from the NOAA predictive services.

Date and Time: Tuesday, May 19, 2026 at 11am AZ/12pm MT

Register Now
 

National Community Wildfire Preparedness Day - May 2

Every year on the first Saturday in May, people and organizations across the U.S. and Canada come together for a day of action to raise awareness and reduce wildfire risk in their communities. This Saturday, several communities across New Mexico are hosting Wildfire Prep Day events.

Check this map to find a registered event closest to you, or browse the flyers below for more details. Attend your local Prep Day to learn about effective wildfire mitigation practices, participate in fuels reduction activities, and connect with other engaged community members working to make a difference.

 

NM Wildland Urban Fire Summit (WUFS) 2026

Save the date for the New Mexico 2026 Wildland Urban Fire Summit on October 14-16 in Silver City, NM! Join fire professionals, land managers, community leaders, and community resilience specialists for three days of presentations, panels, and a field tour. A more detailed agenda will be released in the coming months. FACNM hopes to see you there!

 

Western State Fire Managers Health and Wellness Subcommittee Training

The Western States Fire Managers (WSFM) Health and Wellness Subcommittee is seeking health and wellness trainings to feature on its online training calendar. Priority areas include educational content on peer-to-peer support, Critical Incident Stress Management, and resources for first responders. 

Organizations and agencies offering training that benefits wildland firefighters and their families are encouraged to submit opportunities via email.

 

The Spark: Wildfire Preparedness is Year Round (April)

April 2026 Edition

Please feel encouraged to adapt and share these materials through your own channels.

About The Spark

The Spark: Wildfire Preparedness is Year-Round is a unified, statewide messaging campaign that promotes year-round wildfire preparedness through consistent and coordinated outreach each month. It is produced by a core group of partners, including FACNM, BLM–New Mexico, NM State Forestry Division, USDA Forest Service Southwestern Region, Forest Stewards Guild, US Department of Interior, and the New Mexico Forest and Watershed Restoration Institute (NMFWRI).

The bulletin below is designed to communicate wildfire topics to broad audiences, with this month focusing on how weather conditions trigger wildfire-related prevention actions including red flag warnings, fire weather watches, and public safety power shutoffs.

Download the Bulletin
Download a print friendly version of the Bulletin
Download an accessible, readable version of the bulletin

Wildfire Wednesday #182: The Confluence of Wildfire Prevention, Mitigation, and Evacuation Prep

Last Monday, New Mexico’s state forester enacted statewide fire restrictions prohibiting smoking, fireworks, campfires, and any prescribed, open, agricultural and/or debris burning on all non-municipal, non-federal, and non-Tribal lands statewide. This follows a suite of National Forest and other federal lands fire restrictions or closures in the Southwest. These restrictions, taken together, represent one aspect of wildfire preparedness: fire prevention. How do the other most common aspects - wildfire risk mitigation and evacuation planning and preparation - work in tandem with, or against, one another, and does emphasizing one approach work to the detriment of the others?

Today’s newsletter dives into new research that shows that folks who uptake one approach to wildfire adaptation tend to uptake others and discusses how to get over the initial barriers to engaging in wildfire preparation.

This Wildfire Wednesday features:

Stay safe, and stay fire adapted!
-Rachel

How Prevention, Mitigation, and Evacuation work together

Complementarity of fire preparedness actions

“Homeowners are being asked to be prepared to leave and evacuate safely, and they’re also asked to make changes on their property to withstand a wildfire event... If we ask people to do evacuation preparation and mitigation, is it possible that there will be tradeoffs? We didn’t know how people make decisions about evacuation preparedness in relation to mitigation actions” (RMRS, May 2026).

This excerpt from a new Science You Can Use publication from the USDA Rocky Mountain Research Station poses the question of whether there will be tradeoffs in resident fire preparedness actions if land managers and educators emphasize one proactive risk-reducing action - like evacuation preparation - over another - like risk mitigation via defensible space creation and home hardening. At a time when the number of people exposed to fires is growing and about half of Earth’s population resides in the wildland-urban interface, the need for locally-led, science-informed, multi-faceted, and grassroots fire preparedness is increasing. What researchers from WiRē found is that there is actually a positive feedback loop: homeowners who do more mitigation - and individuals who have more conversations about fire with their neighbors and fire professionals - are more prepared for evacuation. This is important, because completing evacuation preparation activities means lives may be saved.

This positive correlation is only one piece of the proactive puzzle; financial barriers, household beliefs on the efficacy of mitigation, and more continue to be major deterrents to risk mitigation actions. Effective wildfire management, as seen in the Fire Adapted Communities (FAC) framework, relies on combining mitigation with preparation (clear evacuation plans and alerts) and other parts of the FAC wheel for true fire preparedness. However, this research does suggest that residents who recognize the high risk of fire are more motivated to take all necessary precautions - in other words, if residents can be motivated to engage with fire preparedness in one way, they may be more likely to engage in multiple other ways, increasing their overall fire adaptation. . What does it all mean, taken together? Talking to your friends, neighbors, family, constituents, and community about fire adaptation - from prevention to risk mitigation to evacuation - matters, because the more that people are exposed to accurate and actionable fire preparation information, the more likely they are to take action.

The role of community planning

Since wildfires do not respect property lines or administrative boundaries, cooperation across landowners, government agencies, and jurisdictions is essential. Successful wildfire mitigation calls for collaborative planning and management where communities integrate various strategies – land-use planning, development regulations, building codes, and homeowner education – to live more safely amidst the ongoing threat of wildfires. Local government programs (like Community Wildfire Protection Plans) often incentivize both home mitigation and evacuation planning as a comprehensive package. Community preparation for fire and extreme event-related emergencies and potential evacuations is critical for ensuring community safety. Learn more about community emergency planning and the overlapping and complementary steps your community can take to be better prepared: North Coast recommendations and FAC Community Preparedness facilitation guide.

Upcoming Opportunities and Additional Resources

Webinars

NMSU “Learning to Live with Fire” webinar series

Fire has no bounds on a dry, windy, spring day in New Mexico, regardless of whether you live in urban or rural environments defined by forest, rangelands, or deserts. Join New Mexico State University Cooperative Extension on Thursdays for a lunch & learn webinar to be better prepared for wildland fire.

  • April 16, 12 - 1PM: Steps to safeguard your home, yard, and neighborhood.

  • April 23rd, 12 - 1PM:  Farm and ranch wildfire considerations.

RSVP here or on the website: Learning to Live with Fire

Post-Fire Assessment and Recovery training webinar series

The Washington DNR, Okanogan Conservation District and Washington State Conservation Commission Center for Technical Development (wactd.org) are offering a six-part series on post-fire assessment and recover for foresters and land managers. This series follows an early-April post-fire conference, After the Flames, hosted by the same organizations in Cle Elum, WA.

📅 Webinar Schedule:
April 22 – Post-Fire Hazard Assessments
April 29 – Using the LEAF Assessment Template
May 6 – Erosion Assessment & Mitigation
May 13 – Debris Management & Danger Trees
May 20 – Building a Recovery Funding Portfolio
May 27 – Pre-Fire Recovery Planning

Learn more and register.

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Cultivando Conservación Job Opportunity

Cultivando Conservación, a program run in partnership between the Forest Stewards Guild and Asekia Inc., is working to connect northern New Mexican landowners to networking and funding opportunities that promote conservation practices in four rural New Mexican communities Cuba, Cebolla, Grants, and Trampas.

The program is hiring part-time conservation ambassadors in each community to assist in connecting private landowners to funding opportunities that support conservation practices. The position will be focused on outreach, education, training, and community engagement.

If interested, apply here: Conservation Ambassador, Forest Stewards Guild - Forest Stewards Guild

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Educational videos for home hardening

Still shot from the video on The Non-Combustible Zone. These videos contain recommendations for simple fire-resiliency actions in an easily digestible format.

The City of Boulder, Colorado, has created a set of brief videos on actions to make a home more wildfire resistant. Topics covered are the non-combustible zone (link), decks (link), fences (link) and vents (link) - with principles and examples of actions or materials for each.

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Tools for drought conditions

A warm winter across the West has reduced snowpack to record-low levels. This snow drought means less abundant fodder in rangelands and less streamflow in the waterways that shelter fish and give us drinking water, among other impacts. A recent special edition newsletter from the USDA Forest Service has a collection of resources, tools and fact sheets (including a fact sheet for managing for drought in the West) that may be useful following the warm and dry winter seen across much of the West.

View the collection of resources

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Resources for prescribed burning

The Forest Stewards Guild, with support from the Fire Learning Network and others, has released the report National Assessment of Certified Prescribed Burn Manager Programs. The assessment, which follows-up on a 2020 report and is based on interviews across 43 states, is intended to help states that are considering creating or updating these programs. It contains lessons and recommendations by region and scenario as well as additional resources for managers. A recording of a webinar on the report will be available on the Southwest Fire Science Consortium YouTube page in the coming days.

Read the report

Oklahoma State University Extension, with support from the USDA, has developed a phone application for burn mangers and planners called Burn–Prescribed Fire Planner. It is now available for iPhones and iPads at the Apple Store (Android coming soon). The app helps fire practitioners monitor burn prescriptions and when conditions align with safe prescribed fire objectives by allowing users to enter multiple burn units then choose weather parameters for each burn. The app will notify users, up to seven days in advance, when weather conditions will be met for that burn. It can be used anywhere in the U.S., and burn units can be shared with others who have the app.

View the app

In the news: the High Country News article Why Intentional Fires Can Still Be Safe During This Dry Spring looks at some of the ways fire managers and cultural burners are getting important burning done ahead of wildfire season, in spite of widespread warm and dry drought conditions in the West. The article highlights how land managers are finding pockets of cool wet conditions, allowing them to safely reduce future fire risk. As a TNC Fire Program Manager says, “prescribed fires are all about the right place and the right time.”

Read the article

Wildfire Wednesday #181: Recapping Southwest Wildfire Awareness Week

Happy Wednesday, Fire Adapted New Mexico!

Have you heard of Southwest Wildfire Awareness Week? This public awareness campaign, which has been running for over a decade, takes place the last week of March and highlights information and resources to help communities in the Southwest be aware of and prepare for the fire season ahead. Federal and State fire agencies in New Mexico and Arizona take part in the campaign by sharing information at public events and online or through social media. This year’s SW Wildfire Awareness campaign, which took place last week, followed the theme “Inside Out: Wildfire Preparedness Starts at Home” and focused on tools and suggestions for proactive community-based prevention. Today’s newsletter will review and recap some of the lessons and suggestions from SW Wildfire Awareness Week 2026.

This Wildfire Wednesday features:

Wildfire Awareness Week

Following a warm and dry winter across the West, wildfire season forecasts suggest that we are in for a long and active fire season with higher-than-normal potential for large wildfires in May and June due to dry vegetation and high fire danger conditions. “We’re heading into an exceptionally warm and dry wildfire season,” said EMNRD Acting Secretary Erin Taylor. “These extreme conditions call for extra precautions. We need everyone to take action to prevent wildfires from impacting their communities.” Facing this reality, the NM Forestry Division used Wildfire Awareness Week 2026 to urge homeowners to take steps to protect their properties and their insurance coverage before fire season peaks this summer (KRTN, 2026).

What is the aim of Wildfire Awareness Week?

“New Mexico gets warm and dry, and our fire season can often start before some other states. We want to remind people we are stepping into the warmer months and we have the windy season in April coming up. It’s a way to remind people of the things they can do to prepare their homes and properties to defend against wildfire. But also to remind people that humans are the cause of most wildfires. In New Mexico, four out of five wildfires are started by humans and the other one out of five are lightning-caused fires, which we mostly get during the monsoon season” (George Ducker, NM Forestry Division via the Santa Fe Reporter).

Key themes and focal areas for 2026:

  • Inside Out: Wildfire Preparedness Starts at Home: this year’s theme emphasized that fire prevention begins with actions taken in and around the home, working from the inside out to build individual resilience against fires.

  • Defensible space and home hardening: from simple tasks like cleaning gutters and removing dry leaves to larger projects like creating fuel breaks and home retrofitting with fire-resistant building materials, the campaign emphasized actions to be taken on private property.

  • Proactive community planning: expanding from the individual home (inside) to the wider communities in which we live (out), the campaign also provided tips and encouragement for neighbors to work together to identify risks and create evacuation plans before the highest-risk May and June fire season.

  • Prevention first - managing human-caused ignitions: fires that start by human-caused ignitions will, on average, be responsible for burning over half of the acres burned in a given year. A key component of wildfire preparedness is wildfire prevention - doing our part to make sure that they don’t start. This year’s campaign included targeted messaging on the three top causes of wildfires:

  1. Debris burning: as New Mexico’s #1 cause of unintentional wildfire ignitions, avoid open flames during high-risk, windy, and dry days. Always check your county and municipality’s websites before burning to see if your area is under a burn ban or fire weather advisory.

  2. Recreation: “fire is strongly linked to outdoor recreation in the United States. Recreational uses of fires, whether in designated campgrounds or the backcountry, include warmth, cooking, and fostering a comfortable atmosphere. However, through inattention, negligence, or bad luck, recreational fires sometimes ignite wildfires” (NWFSC, 2025). Target shooting, not properly extinguishing campfires (remember "Drown, Stir, Repeat"), fireworks, inappropriate ATV or dirt bike use, and smoking are all drivers of recreation-related human-caused ignitions. Fire awareness and safety are paramount while recreating during high fire risk times of the year; of 3,644 human caused ignitions (on NFS lands) from 1980 to 2015, 36% were within one mile of a recreation site and 91% were within a half mile of a road (Forest Stewards Guild, 2018).

  3. Sparks from equipment/vehicles: sparks from tools, such as chainsaws and metal grinders, and sparks from vehicles or transportation, such as hot tailpipes and chains dragging on the road, start fires. Avoid using spark-causing tools on high-risk days, always use a spark arrester, secure your tow chains, and avoiding driving over or parking on dry grass or brush.

Click through the photo gallery and watch the video below to see some of the lessons, tips, and tricks which came out of this year’s Wildfire Awareness campaign! Contributors include the New Mexico Forestry Division, Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management, Southwest Fire Science Consortium, and more.

Additional Resources

Smoke and public health

 
 

EPA: The Environmental Protection Agency has a new webpage with information about wildland fire smoke and public health impacts, along with answers to frequently asked questions, to help communities across the country prepare for, respond to and recover from wildland fire smoke events.

NMED: The New Mexico Environment Department also hosts a website with links to find information on air quality data and how to protect you and your family’s health when it is smoky. Visit their Wildfire and Prescribed Fire Smoke Resources webpage to browse topics such as Monitoring Data and Air Quality Information, Health Information, Smoke Forecasts, Fire Information, and Drought and Climate Information.

Funding opportunity: The Wildfire Smoke Preparedness in Community Building grants are intended to support activities that will reduce indoor exposure to pollutants in wildfire smoke and, in turn, reduce the public health burden of wildfire smoke exposure. Applications are due 4/15/26. Learn more: https://www.epa.gov/grants/wildfire-smoke-preparedness-community-buildings&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1775084697369665&usg=AOvVaw3QeJuCcxuphXeM4tz74Ifp.

This funding opportunity and many others may be found through FACNM’s funding library.

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Upcoming webinars

April 15 at 12pm: Nationwide Assessment of Certified Prescribed Burn Manager Programs
Certified Prescribed Burn Manager (CPBM) programs provide accessible and structured prescribed fire training in 24 states. This webinar from the Southwest Fire Science Consortium will provide an assessment of CPBM programs across the country based on interviews with representatives from 43 states. Those 43 states include states with existing CPBM programs, developing programs, and no programs. Register below to examine national trends, highlight shared challenges and innovative approaches, and offer recommendations for supporting the safe and effective use of prescribed fire through certification.

Register Now

This fact sheet from the Southwest Fire Science Consortium presents the collective experience of more than 250 wildlife and fire professionals, highlighting nine challenges—and some practical approaches for meeting them.

View the fact sheet
Explore other Wildfire & Fire resources

Climate change is reducing winter snowpack and advancing spring snowmelt across the western United States. Early snowmelt extends the fire season, enhancing opportunities for ignition and increasing fuel dryness, both of which contribute to greater burned areas. Early snowmelt is associated with earlier occurrences of large fires and greater annual area burned, and low snowpack is associated with more severe burn outcomes, including larger proportions of high severity fire. Overall, researchers found that low-snow winters with early snowmelt may prime forested watersheds to dry, burn, and experience high severity fire. Projected current and future warming, potentially accompanied by greater ENSO variability and extremes, points toward a future of reduced snowpack, earlier snowmelt, and increased area burned at high severity in forests where snowpack historically buffered fire risk, with attendant losses in forest carbon storage and disrupted hydrological function of forested watersheds.

Read the full article

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Fire restrictions in New Mexico

Due to elevated wildfire risk, the Santa Fe National Forest will implement Stage 1 Fire Restrictions forest-wide beginning Thursday, April 2, 2026, through September 30, 2026.  The decision to implement fire restrictions is based on various factors, including the availability of firefighting resources, current drought conditions, weather forecast, the time of year, and fuel moisture levels. Implementing fire restrictions can help prevent human-caused wildfires and protect public health and safety.  

Parts of the Cibola National Forest and Grasslands and other public lands across the state are also under Stage 1 or Stage 2 fire restrictions. Visit this interactive map to see the current restrictions in your area and learn about what they mean.

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Disaster mitigation funding opportunity

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has announced $1 billion to support critical infrastructure projects and help states mitigate impact of disasters. Eligible applicants include states, the District of Columbia, U.S. territories and federally recognized Tribal Nations. Eligible sub-applicants include local governments, communities, special districts and Tribal Nations applying through a state or territory. This Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) funding opportunity is designed to prioritize infrastructure resilience by funding construction projects that are ready to implement and incentivizing the adoption of the latest hazard-resistant building codes. Applicants with adequate capacity are most encouraged to apply; this funding opportunity is competitive and can be challenging to implement.

For this funding cycle, the available categories include:

  • $112 million for states and territories (up to $2 million federal cost share for each applicant).

  • $50 million Tribal Set-Aside (up to $2 million federal cost share for each applicant).

  • $56 million for State or Territory Building Code Plus-Up (up to $1 million federal cost share per applicant) and $25 million for Tribal Nation Building Code Plus-Up to carry out eligible building code adoption and enforcement activities.

  • $757 million for National Competition (up to $20 million federal cost share per sub-application).

The deadline to submit applications is July 23, 2026. Interested applicants and sub-applicants may review the Notice of Funding Opportunity on Grants.gov. For more information on the BRIC program, applicants should contact their FEMA Regional Office or visit www.fema.gov/grants/mitigation/learn/building-resilient-infrastructure-communities.

Wildfire Wednesday #180: FACNM March Leader Feature

Happy Wednesday FACNM community!

Today, we’re spotlighting the work and insights of the Placitas Resilience and Emergency Preparedness Alliance (PREP) and its president, Allen Saville. Alongside PREP’s story, we’re also sharing funding resources, upcoming learning opportunities, and job openings to support New Mexico communities in becoming more fire adapted.

This Wildfire Wednesday features:

Wishing everyone a wonderful start to spring,
Megan

March FACNM Leader Feature

As President of the Placitas Resilience and Emergency Preparedness Alliance (PREP), Allen Saville has become a force within the FACNM Network in less than a year of involvement. Under his leadership, PREP has advanced meaningful community outreach efforts and continues to strengthen wildfire preparedness across Placitas.

Below, Allen shares PREP’s experiences while on the path to building a more fire-adapted community and more about the team that has built such momentum in the past year.

The Beginning

About a year ago there was a meeting at the Placitas Community Library. It was one of those public information sessions and the speaker was telling us about wildfire risk reduction activities in other communities. At some point a member of the audience said: “We need to do something like that here in Placitas.”

The moderator, being both a good facilitator and respectful of the presenter, responded quickly: “Anyone interested in doing something in Placitas stay around after the meeting and we’ll talk.” A dozen people hung around after the meeting. That was the beginning.

There was a second meeting; a clear leader emerged. At the third meeting, it was obvious that people thought there was an important purpose and much work to be accomplished. The group set meetings for twice a month. Two months later, we were an official New Mexico nonprofit corporation and later received our tax-exempt status from the IRS. We composed bylaws, established a board of directors, developed a mission statement, and more.

While all of the organizational administrivia was happening, we organized three successful “community briefings” on emergency preparedness topics: (1) Fire Mitigation, (2) Emergency Evacuation, (3) Homeowner Insurance in Wildfire-Prone Communities. Attendance at these events ranged from 60 to 90 participants. A schedule for 2026 is in place with five such events – one in cooperation with the local Placitas Volunteer Fire Brigade.

PREP’s ongoing point of view is that there is a lot of work to do in cultivating an appropriate level of awareness of the importance of emergency preparedness in our community, but we’re off to a good start.

A Compelling Purpose

The official name of our organization - Placitas Resilience & Emergency Preparedness Alliance - is appropriate in that it tells you what we are all about, but it is a mouthful . . . We have become known as the PREP Alliance or just PREP.

We believe one of the things that has contributed to a good beginning is that the importance of being prepared for emergencies is self-evident:

When disasters and emergencies occur, both emergency service agencies and ordinary individuals have important roles in responding, surviving and recovering. Emergency preparedness on the part of both individuals and emergency services is often the key to a swift and effective response that saves lives and reduces injury and damage.

When you say this out loud, it is hard not to be supportive!

The PREP Alliance is a volunteer, nonprofit organization that organizes community programs and activities that cultivate emergency preparedness and resilience within and among individuals and organizations in the Placitas Area.

The PREP Alliance is concerned with preparedness for all types of emergencies - flood, earthquake, medical emergencies, and more – but the most widely appreciated and obvious emergency in our area today is wildland fire. We all know that wildland fire can be catastrophic and is wildly unpredictable. We also know that there is actually a lot that can, and should, be done to reduce the risk of wildfire. A significant challenge is that too many people do not appreciate the danger and do not know what they can, and should, do to help reduce the likelihood of significant injury and/or damage from a wildfire event.

The PREP Team

Another big reason for the initial successes of the PREP Alliance is serendipity. The word “serendipity” is intriguing to me. It is more than chance or blind luck. The real essence of serendipity is how people recognize the opportunity and how they act on it. There is a positive element of human agency involved. To my mind serendipity does not happen unless the people involved in the occurrence are curious, open-minded, and are actually looking for a break-through or opportunity.

Among the dozen people who attended that first meeting and continued on to form the PREP Team were:

Phillip – the guy who organized that first meeting and was the moderator for the meeting. He has significant professional and organizational experience, lives in a part of Placitas in which the wildfire risk is obvious and palpable, happens to be a part of the Land Grant community, and has a wonderful appreciation for the values of a number of the diverse communities in, and the history of, our area.

Dawn – has a professional background as a well-credentialed environmental engineer and just happens to be a Master Gardener. Dawn also has commitment to, and years of volunteer work with a number of Placitas nonprofit community organizations. She is also a talented researcher, extremely organized and no shy retiring violet in terms of seeing an idea through to a viable action plan.

Myron – another engineer experienced with huge engineering projects all over the world. Myron has tenacity – when he takes on a project he wants to get all of the facts, understand everything, and tries his dead-level best to produce the best possible result. He is also skilled in producing a detailed work break-down structure, estimating costs and identifying all of the risks that might be hidden in the endeavor.

Angelina – unassuming and most people might underestimate her value. She has an extremely diverse background that just happens to include working with the forestry service and has an appreciation for wildfire. Angelina also has “civic spirit,” truly wants the best for our community and is not afraid of learning new things. She also has a knack for finding out the informal and unwritten ways that the community works and seems to be able to strike up a conversation with just about anyone.

Jay – we are still uncovering all of his talents. His professional background is mostly in education at the university level (a lot of that involving communications). He just happens to be a great proof-reader. He is a musician, connected to the artistic community in Placitas and seems to know a fair bit about most of the community-based organizations in the Placitas area. Jay is willing to take on new things and helps manage our organization’s communication activities.

Jon – has been in Placitas ‘forever’ and has had a number of important leadership and management positions within the Coronado Soil and Water Conservation District and the system of acequias in the Placitas area. Acequias are not just about water distribution – they are about ‘water democracy,’ providing water for both irrigation and domestic water supply and stem from both Pueblo Indian and Spanish traditions. Jon has a deep commitment to environmental sustainability and valuable insight into the cultural heritage of the region.

Allen – My experience as a volunteer firefighter and EMT, responding to all kinds of emergency incidents helps me both appreciate the need for, and provides specific knowledge about, being prepared. I was also involved in cultivating emergency preparedness and resilience on a community-wide basis and received the Community Resilience Award in Boulder County. This gave me a perspective about emergency preparedness needs at a community scale.

I have been involved in large-scale, devastating wildland fires (like the Marshall Fire near Boulder Colorado), small wildfires, and structure fires. All of that provides direct, first-hand knowledge about wildland fire behavior. I have helped with evacuation efforts; rescued people in a national disaster flooding event; dealt with power outages that have lasted for more than a week; been a part of mountain search and rescue operations and more. All of this is great experience for appreciating the need for preparedness.

Others that have helped along the way, providing insight into the concepts of marketing, social media, operating audio/visual equipment, and a number of other subjects.

Collaboration and Support

From the very beginning, our outreach to other community-based organizations (CBOs) in the Placitas area has been met with wonderful collaboration in addressing emergency preparedness issues. We quickly established having regular monthly meetings with Sandoval County’s Emergency Manager. The members of the Placitas Volunteer Fire Brigade have been extremely helpful and we have also been invited to attend regularly scheduled board meetings of a number of the more significant Placitas community organizations.

Allen Saville (Left) President of the PREP Alliance and Dan Heerding (Right) Sandoval County Emergency Manager co-presenting on the topic of “Evacuation” in one of the PREP Community Briefing series.

We have learned about a number of projects that CBOs were undertaking that we thought also had a close relationship to emergency preparedness and began to get involved too. We learned more about their community support objectives and they learned about ours. There are real efforts to find synergy in a spirit of mutual assistance.

FACNM has been a great resource in terms of a platform of introduction to individuals and organizations with goals and objectives similar to ours. The FACNM network has also been helpful in providing other sources of information and potential grant funding. Reaching out to individuals and organizations that we found through FACNM has provided our organization with another level of support and informational resources. Learning “who’s who in the zoo,” actually meeting and talking to those people, and learning through hearing about others experiences has been very instructive.

The Long View

The PREP Alliance understands that the distance between “here” and having the entire Placitas area even close to a wildfire prepared community is an extremely “long and winding road.” That distance is concerning, challenging, and intimidating and we are still trying to get comfortable with the frustrations along the way. But, it feels good to be getting started. Thanks to the PREP Alliance, that goal is actually a topic of discussion, and more and more people are paying attention. When you think about it – that’s actually a significant accomplishment all by itself.

Additional Resources and Upcoming Opportunities

Funding

FACNM Spring Microgrant - Application closes this Friday

Looking to fund your community fire preparedness event? FACNM Leaders and Members are eligible to apply for grants awards of up to $2,000 to provide financial assistance for:

  • convening wildfire preparedness events,

  • enabling on-the-ground community fire risk mitigation work, or

  • developing grant proposals for the sustainable longevity of their Fire Adapted Community endeavor.

NMDA Noxious Weed Management Grant

The New Mexico Department of Agriculture (NMDA) is awarding up to $60,000 for projects that improve the state’s economy and environment by managing noxious weeds in New Mexico. Projects must incorporate activities related to the prevention, control or eradication of state-listed noxious plant species. These activities must include some form of mapping or on-the-ground treatment. Projects that are solely Education/Outreach; or Planning, Capacity Development, & Partnership Building will not be considered for funding.

Eligible Applicants include:

  • Cooperative weed management areas

  • Soil & water conservation districts

  • Local governments, state political subdivisions, and special districts

  • Tribes, nations, & pueblos

  • Land grants-mercedes & acequias

  • Non-profits & non-governmental organizations (NGOs) with proven land management capacity

Applications close April 8, 2026 at noon MT.

 

Interested in fuel treatments and wildfires? As one of the most widely used tools in wildfire risk reduction, managers, researchers, and communities want to know how fuel treatments (thinning, prescribed burns, etc.) are working. The answer is more nuanced than you might think.

 Join researchers Anson Call and Nate Tomczyk on Thursday, March 19th at 10am MST for a free online webinar hosted by the Missoula Fire Lab. Topics will include:

  • What the data says about treatment effects on wildfires

  • How we define “working” and why the definition matters

  • How to move beyond correlation to causation when randomized experiments aren’t possible

Register Now

Treating Dry Forest Landscapes to Promote Functioning Fire Regimes in the 21st Century
March 24 | 12PM MT

Managers are increasingly investing in restoration and fuel reduction treatments, yet key questions remain about how much of a landscape must be treated to reduce burn severity and restore functioning fire regimes. Join this webinar to learn about how treating larger areas in key locations impacts fire effects and how land managers can accomplish it. This presentation will dive into the results from an analysis of 5,084 fires over 16 years which allowed researchers to 1) quantify burned landscape treatment composition and 2) evaluate how the percentage of area treated influences inside-boundary, outside-boundary, and cumulative fire effects across three spatial scales and three major ecoregions.

Presenter: Caden Chamberlain, Senior Forest and Fire Ecology Research Associate with the Colorado Forest Restoration Institute

Register Now
 

Job Opportunities

The Forest Stewards Guild

 
 

Southwest Prescribed Fire Project Coordinator

The Prescribed Fire Project Coordinator will coordinate projects within the Guild’s fire management program in New Mexico, which seeks to find innovative ways to build fire adapted communities and landscapes by increasing implementation of prescribed fire on private and public land, creating training and education opportunities, increasing collaboration, and broadening the definition of fire management. This position supports programs including the All Hands All Lands Burn Network and the Forest Stewards Youth Corps Fire and Fuels Crews, in addition to other existing programs and landscapes across the region.

Application deadline: March 30, 2026

Southwest Forestry and Fuels Coordinator

The Forestry and Fuels Coordinator will support forest contractors and implement forest resilience projects on private and federal lands. This role builds upon the 2-3-2 Cohesive Strategy Partnership and the Rio Chama Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program (CFLRP) to promote forestry projects for small acreage and underserved landowners and build local contractor capacity. This role requires excellent listening skills and the ability to foster relationships with diverse partners and the public. The successful candidate will demonstrate a proactive approach and a genuine enthusiasm for working collaboratively to achieve shared goals.

Application deadline: March 30, 2026

Training and Safety Officer for the New Mexico Forestry Division

The Training and Safety Officer for the New Mexico Forestry Division is responsible for planning, developing, and delivering wildfire training programs to forestry personnel, partner agencies, and local fire departments. This role ensures that all personnel are properly trained, certified, and prepared to respond effectively to wildland fire incidents in accordance with state and federal standards. The coordinator collaborates with various agencies to coordinate training schedules, conduct wildfire drills, and maintain training records and certifications.

Application deadline: March 20, 2026

The Spark: Wildfire Preparedness is Year Round (March)

March 2026 Edition

Please feel encouraged to adapt and share these materials through your own channels.

About The Spark

The Spark: Wildfire Preparedness is Year-Round is a unified, statewide messaging campaign that promotes year-round wildfire preparedness through consistent and coordinated outreach each month. It is produced by a core group of partners, including FACNM, BLM–New Mexico, NM State Forestry Division, USDA Forest Service Southwestern Region, Forest Stewards Guild, and the New Mexico Forest and Watershed Restoration Institute (NMFWRI).

The bulletin below is designed to communicate wildfire topics to broad audiences, with this month focusing on IBHS’s Wildfire Prepared Home certification and synergies with the Firewise USA program.

Download the Bulletin
Download an accessible, readable version of the bulletin
Download a print friendly version of the bulletin

To view The Spark’s main page and view archived Wildfire Preparedness is Year-Round messaging, click here: The Spark: Wildfire Preparedness is Year Round — Fire Adapted NM

Wildfire Wednesday #179: Red Flag Warnings, Fire Restrictions, and Burn Bans Explained

When weather conditions turn hot, dry, and windy, the risk of a single spark igniting a wildfire increases dramatically. During these periods of elevated fire danger, fire professionals and land management agencies rely on several tools to inform the public about the risk and outline actions that can help prevent human-caused fires. Terms like Red Flag Warning, stage restrictions, and burn bans are being used more frequently as prolonged drought, dry fuels, and extreme weather become more common. Just last week, parts of the Cibola National Forest and National Grasslands implemented Stage II fire restrictions, highlighting how quickly conditions can shift across the region. While these terms are often used together, they serve different purposes.

Below, we break down what each designation means, how they are determined, and the types of restrictions or precautions that may accompany each notice. By knowing why these measures are implemented, communities can make safer decisions, follow local regulations, and help reduce the risk of human-caused wildfires during periods of elevated fire danger.

This Wildfire Wednesday features:

All the best,
Megan

Red Flag Warnings

What is a Red Flag Warning?

The origin of the name, Red Flag Warning, is a literal one, according to Tamara Wall of the Desert Research Institute: “If there was… high fire danger, local fire stations would go and run a red flag up the flagpole. It was a very visual, kind of pre-mass communications way to signal to people in the area that it was a high-danger day” (NPR, 4/14/23).

According to the National Weather Service (NWS), which issues these alerts in conjunction with local and state agencies, a Red Flag Warning is part of a weather forecast which indicates a local increase in fire danger risk in the next 12 to 24 hours. This increased risk is due to a combination of critical fuel conditions and critical weather conditions (warm temperatures, very low humidities, and strong winds). This means that if a wildfire starts, the conditions are right for it to spread rapidly and be difficult to contain.

This combination of 1. low relative humidity (RH), 2. strong surface wind, 3. unstable air (an incoming or outgoing storm system that creates a significant temperature differential between the land surface and lower atmosphere), and 4. drought creates critical fire weather (NWCG, Critical Fire Weather). When it comes to issuing a Red Flag Warning, primary criteria include relative humidity of 15% or less combined with sustained surface winds, or frequent gusts, of 25 mph or greater. Both conditions must occur simultaneously for at least 3 hours out of a 12-hour period, according to the National Weather Service. Meteorologists also consider how all forecasted weather elements combine to create hazardous conditions (e.g. moderate humidity combined with high temperatures and high winds), even if they don’t fit the humidity and wind criteria individually.

When you see a Red Flag Warning, it means that critical fire weather is currently or will soon be occurring. Red Flag Warnings differ in timing from a fire weather watch, which is a longer-term forecast that warns of the possible development of Red Flag conditions in the next 72 hours. Fire Weather Watches may be issued with meteorologists forecasting up to 8 days in advance, whereas Red Flag Warnings are only issued when the critical fire weather conditions meeting the criteria for these Warnings are expected to begin in the next 12-24 hours.

The alert announcing a Red Flag Warning, whether online, on the news, or on your weather app, will usually indicate for how long the Red Flag Warning is forecasted to last. Fire management personnel take Red Flag Warnings into account and may respond by changing staffing numbers or preemptively moving resources into a certain region to be prepared for a potential ignition. During extended periods of high risk, local authorities may consider policy decisions like banning campfires or closing specific areas.

How to Respond

Adjust your behaviors accordingly to avoid creating a spark that could ignite a larger fire.

  • DO NOT burn debris piles.

  • If you are allowed to burn in burn barrels in your area, cover them with a weighted metal cover.

  • DO NOT throw cigarettes or matches on the ground or out of a moving vehicle.

  • If outdoor fires are allowed, make sure to extinguish them properly. Drown fires and charcoal with plenty of water and stir with a shovel to make sure everything is cold to the touch with bare skin.

    • Never leave a fire or barbeque unattended. Sparks or embers can blow into leaves or grass, ignite a fire, and quickly spread.

  • Avoid parking a recently driven vehicle on dry grass or other areas with vegetative cover.

  • Ensure that no chains or hanging metal are dragging from your vehicle or tow-behind trailer which could cause a spark.

Fire Restrictions

What are fire restrictions?

In the U.S., fire stage restrictions are a set of regulations that come in three tiers to limit activities and possibly even access to segments of public land (e.g., a national forest or ranger district) during periods of high fire risk. Fire restrictions are put in place by land managers to reduce the risk of human-caused wildfire ignitions during periods of high fire danger and severe weather conditions. The decision to implement fire restrictions is based on various factors, including the availability of firefighting resources, current drought conditions, weather forecast, and fuel moisture levels. On national forests, managers may consider implementing restrictions if at least three of the following conditions are present: (1) 1,000 hour fuel content is in the 90th percentile or above; (2) three-day mean energy release component (a measure within the NFDRS that determines potential heat that could be released if fuel was burned, indicating a fire might be hotter and harder to suppress) is at the 90th percentile or above on the forest or district’s dominant fuel type , (3) live fuel moisture content is 75% or less, (4) wildland fires are impacting available suppression resource capacity; (5) the area is receiving a high occurrence of wildland fire, and (6) adverse fire weather is predicted to continue (NIFC, 2021).

Managers often coordinate with state, county, and federal partners to implement fire restrictions, but because different agencies manage different lands, restrictions may not always align across boundaries. For example, a national forest may be under restrictions while nearby county or municipal lands are not. It is worthy of noting, different agencies and entities may also use different criteria or require different approval processes to implement stage restrictions, so visitors should always check the rules for the specific area they plan to visit.

Below are the three stages of fire restrictions and the common prohibited activities initiated by these restrictions on federal lands. Local variations on prohibited activities may exist.

Stage 1

Stage 1 fire restrictions reduce wildfire risk while allowing limited recreation.

Typically prohibited (unless otherwise specified):

  • Building, maintaining, attending, or using campfires, charcoal grills, or other open fires except in designated, developed recreation sites

  • Smoking, except inside an enclosed vehicle or building, within a developed recreation site, or in an area at least three feet in diameter that is cleared of all flammable materials

  • Operating chainsaws or similar equipment without a USDA- or SAE-approved spark arrester

  • Welding or using acetylene torches or other open-flame devices outside of cleared areas (usually at least 10 feet in radius)

  • Discharging fireworks

Generally allowed:
Portable stoves, lanterns, and heaters fueled by propane or other liquefied petroleum fuels, provided they are used in cleared areas and meet manufacturer safety specifications with an on/off switch.

Stage 2

Lincoln National Forest Stage 2 Fire Restrictions - May 2025

Stage 2 fire restrictions further limit ignition sources during very high fire danger.

Typically prohibited (unless otherwise specified):

  • All campfires, charcoal grills, and open fires on federal lands

  • Smoking, except in an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site, or in a cleared, nonflammable area

  • Discharging fireworks or using explosives

  • Operating motor vehicles off designated roads (except in developed parking areas or trailheads)

  • Operating equipment powered by internal combustion engines (such as chainsaws) without a spark arrester, or using equipment that produces open flames (e.g., welding); some activities may be restricted to specific hours

Generally allowed:
Portable stoves and lanterns using gas, jellied petroleum, or pressurized liquid fuel, as well as fully enclosed wood-burning stoves with proper spark arrester screens.

Stage 3

While the stage restriction system is used for both public and private lands depending on the authorizing entity, stage 3 restrictions are only used on public lands. Stage 3 restrictions involve full closure of a forest or designated area. During a closure:

  • All roads, trails, and access points may be closed

  • Public entry and recreation are prohibited

  • All activities, regardless of type, are suspended until conditions improve

These closures are implemented only when fire danger is extreme and continued public access would pose significant safety risks or hinder firefighting operations.

Southwest Area Fire Restrictions Interactive Map

New Mexico Forestry Division put together a dashboard to provide the public with a real-time map showing current fire restrictions on public lands in the Southwest. Map data is compiled from various sources and mostly displays federal and state lands, with county restrictions reflected when provided. You should contact your local fire department or government agency for the latest fire restriction information.

Fines and Penalties

Once fire restrictions are in effect, violation of prohibited activities may result in citations, fines, or criminal charges. It is important to not however, that penalties may vary depending on the agency and jurisdiction enforcing the restrictions.

On lands managed by the U.S. Forest Service, violating stage restrictions is generally considered a misdemeanor. Penalties include a fine of up to $5,000, imprisonment for up to six months, or both.

Local jurisdictions in New Mexico may impose different penalties. For example, on county-managed lands in Los Alamos County, a person found in violation of fire restrictions may receive a written citation and face criminal penalties, but no explicit fine amount is listed in their order. In contrast, within the City of Albuquerque, violations of fire restrictions may be punishable by a fine of up to $500, imprisonment for up to 90 days, or both.

Burn Bans

Burn bans are another tool agencies and fire administrators use to prevent wildfires and protect public safety during dry weather and high-fire risk conditions. Burn bans, also known as open burning restrictions, are temporary regulations that limit or prohibit outdoor burning activities such as campfires, bonfires, burning yard waste, agricultural burns, and the use of fireworks. Depending on the severity of conditions, some bans may still allow certain low-risk activities, like cooking with propane grills or using enclosed stoves, while stricter bans prohibit nearly all open flames. Essentially, a burn ban means that outdoor burning is restricted or prohibited within a designated area to reduce the risk of accidental fires spreading.

Burn bans are typically enacted due to factors like drought, low humidity, dry vegetation, high winds, and elevated temperatures, all of which significantly increase wildfire potential. These restrictions are usually issued by local or county governments, as seen in Colfax County, which recently issued a burn ban placing several fire districts under restriction. They are temporary and remain in effect until weather conditions improve and fire danger decreases. Public notices, official county websites, and local fire agencies typically provide updates on current burn ban status, exemptions, and enforcement details.

Additional Resources and Upcoming Opportunities

New Mexico Fire Adapted Funding Library

Did you know there’s a dedicated funding library created specifically for New Mexico community leaders, landowners, and wildfire practitioners? The New Mexico Fire Adapted Funding Library helps users quickly identify potential funding sources for wildfire adaptation, risk reduction, and post-fire recovery efforts.

The library features funding opportunities, direct links for additional details, and a sortable feature that allows you to filter by eligibility type. There are currently 12 open funding opportunities accepting applications, and the database is updated regularly as new programs become available.

View the Library
 

Webinar: Community Response to Wildfire
March 11 | 11-12PM MDT

As part of the Fire Science You Can Use webinar series, Rocky Mountain Research Station is hosting a webinar on March 11 at 11AM MDT that will feature two presentations about community response to wildfire. The presentations will discuss wildfire governance and community adaptation in fire-prone landscapes in the West, as well social media case studies from two wildfire events.

Register Here
 

As Southwest Wildfire Awareness Week (March 23–27) and National Wildfire Preparedness Day (May 2) approach, community leaders and fire practitioners are gearing up to host events and create meaningful opportunities to engage their communities. The Oregon State University Extension Fire Program has developed a helpful primer focused on engaging adult community members at the local level in wildfire preparedness efforts. The guide offers practical strategies for planning inclusive engagement activities, tailoring outreach to different adult learning styles, and incorporating trauma-informed approaches to better support the whole community.

For those organizing preparedness events this spring, this resource provides thoughtful, research-based guidance to strengthen outreach and impact!

View the primer

Wildfire Wednesdays #178: Preparing for Wind-Driven Grassland and Prairie Fires

Happy Wildfire Wednesday, FACNM readers!

New Mexico’s spring wildfire season kicked off last week with the 2,670-acre 352 Fire in the eastern plains near Tucumcari, quickly followed by the Brockman and Smith Fires in eastern NM. There are other large fires burning in the Oklahoma and Texas panhandles; what they have in common is that they are burning through grasslands and prairies and are largely driven by these spring winds, causing very fast-moving fires through hot flashy fuels. As Nico Porcelli (National Weather Service) told KRQE News, “we’re kind of in the thick of it right now. We’ve already been seeing strong wind gusts between 50 and 70 miles per hour, mainly along and east of the central mountain chain.”

Still shot taken on the day of newsletter publication of several news articles on grassland fires in the southwest.

This newsletter often dives into wildfires and fire readiness for communities living in forested areas; however, rangelands (which include grasslands, shrublands, and prairies) cover nearly 60% of all western lands. Fire often plays a critical role in maintaining the health of these grasslands, but also can threaten homes, livestock, and infrastructure. Today’s newsletter touches on how communities can prepare for grassland and prairie fires, especially under windy conditions.

This Wildfire Wednesday features:

Stay safe and be well,
Rachel

Fire in Rangeland WUI

A Growing Risk

“Houses built near wildland vegetation are at greater risk of burning than those farther from the wildland-urban interface, a growing problem as housing developments expand and the climate becomes warmer… The number of homes destroyed by wildfires has doubled over the past 30 years, and most of them were in grasslands and shrublands, not near forests.”
— H. Jesse Smith

Rapid changes in wildfire patterns have been documented globally. Temperate grassland and savanna biomes have historically been some of the most frequently burned regions on Earth, and we know that fire behaves differently when burning in different vegetation types. “Crown fires in forests have the highest fire intensity and can produce many embers that can ignite houses that are far from a fire front. However, grassland and shrubland fires can spread rapidly when wind is strong, such as in the 2021 Marshall Fire near Boulder, Colorado, which destroyed more than a thousand houses. Furthermore, fuels recover quickly in grasslands and shrublands, such that areas can reburn within a few years, and these areas require different risk management strategies than forests.” (Radeloff et al., 2023). In landscapes where grasses are the predominant vegetative fuel type, these regions are characterized by an abundance of fine fuels and can be particularly vulnerable to wildfire due to their rapid fuel accumulation and high fire frequency.

Photo credit: Federal Fish and Wildlife Service (Grasslands of the American Southwest)

Fires have historically burned frequently in dry grasslands, returning every 2-10 years. However, increasingly arid conditions, modifications to grass-dominated landscapes, and invasive species have contributed to elevated wildfire behavior and risk. Expanding development and jurisdictional boundaries have fragmented grasslands, increasing the complexity of fire behavior and management and making suppression more challenging. Wildfires occurring in areas predominantly populated by fine rapidly igniting fuels, like those found in grass-dominated landscapes, can quickly impact communities within the Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) with little forewarning. In such instances, standard predictions of fire spread may not be capable of issuing timely emergency warnings in advance of a fast-moving fire.

“Wet periods (such as monsoonal rains) often lead to heightened production of grass fuels, contributing to an increased risk of extreme fire behavior in subsequent dry years… The accumulation of highly combustible vegetation combined with arid, windy and open landscapes creates favorable conditions for large-scale fires. Although fires can occur at any time of the year the frequency and intensity of these fires depend on factors like precipitation and aboveground productivity (amount of vegetation biomass)… Grass fires can be intense and capable of generating significant heat aboveground. Because grassfires are often rapid spreading surface fires, temperatures peak quickly as fire passes, often killing the tops of living plants including trees leaving belowground vegetation unimpacted” (CSU, Grassland Fuels Management, 2019). Grassland fires are defined as being ‘exceptionally responsive’ to dry, hot, and windy conditions, meaning that grass fires ignited on high fire danger days build heat and speed very quickly.

Watch this video to learn more about how fire behaves in one type of grassland: desert grasslands of the Sonoran and Chihuahuan Deserts.

 

…………………………….

How to Prepare

Some properties have a higher risk for accidental fires, such as those located next to major highways, interstates or railroads. It is unreasonable to think there will be time to prepare property, livestock, equipment and family in the event of wildfire. Landowners should be aware that in the event a wildfire occurs under extreme weather conditions, there may not be enough time or resources available to protect homes and structures. Prepare for grass and rangeland fires by creating defensible space around buildings, knowing how to protect livestock and property, prioritizing your safety, and staying fire aware.

Defensible Space and Property Maintenance

  • Mow grass: during high fire danger, maintain grass at 4 inches or less, especially within a 30-foot radius of buildings, to minimize fire intensity. Mow grass low around flammable infrastructure, such as wooden fences. Watch this video to see how grass fires behave in mowed vs natural form grass.

  • Maintain vegetation: prune back trees and shrubs close to buildings ahead of fire season to reduce their flaming potential.

  • Create a fireproof “zone 0”: protect the area immediately surrounding (0-5 ft away) your home and outbuildings by:

    • Removing vegetation (grass, trees, shrubs, flowers, etc.) from the area immediately around the house and replacing it with noncombustible (e.g. gravel, crushed stone, or brick) ground cover,

    • Cleaning roof and gutters by removing leaves and debris and trimming back overhanging tree branches,

    • Not storing flammable items under deck or patio and moving flammable items (such as cloth cushions or plastic furniture) from porches ahead of a fire,

    • Moving all flammable materials away from exterior walls, including firewood, mulch, leaves, lumber piles, and other combustible items,

  • Remove fuel sources: move hay bales, stacked wood, and fuel containers at least 50 feet away from buildings.

  • Create firebreaks: in strategic areas, firebreaks (a noncombustible protective strip which has been cleared down to bare mineral soil) can be created to impede the path of a fire. However, many wind-driven grassland fires can have horizontal flame lengths exceeding 10 ft and may be able to cross over these barriers.

Preparation for Livestock, Rural Properties, and Insurability

Livestock preparation: **Protecting livestock from wildfire can be dangerous. Entering into an unburned pasture with significant fuel loads and limited escape routes to open gates or cut fences is inherently risky. Be aware of the fire location, direction and rate of spread before making a decision to enter a pasture; if you are unsure, do not enter.**

Photo credit: Dave Perozzi, Wrong Direction Farm

  • Maintain gates so they open easily and without tools,

  • Prepare safe areas for livestock within pastures - maximizing trampling along fence lines and in pasture corners, or creating grazed, paved, or irrigated areas,

  • Have a livestock evacuation plan that considers how and where livestock will be taken in the event of a wildfire,

  • Carry fence pliers to cut a rapid escape route if you find yourself trapped by fire.

Prevent fire ignitions

  • Time your mowing: during hot or dry times of the year, mow in the morning when it is cool and moist to avoid sparks from the equipment starting an ignition.

  • Avoid working on dry days: do not operate equipment which can spark in nearby vegetation during dry, windy, “fire watch,” or "red flag" conditions.

  • Use proper tools: use weed whackers/string trimmers instead of mowers in rocky areas to avoid sparks. If using this equipment, grass should be mowed to 6 inches or less, rather than 4 inches,

Emergency Planning and Awareness

  • Stay informed: monitor local weather and sign up for emergency text or email alerts.

  • Evacuation plan: prepare a "Go Kit" and ensure all family members know the escape routes.

  • Never approach: if a fire starts, do not try to take photos; leave immediately and call 911.

Beneficial fire


Oklahoma State Extension’s comprehensive fire preparation recommendations and NM Forestry Division provide a lot of additional information on how to prepare for grassland fire; many of these suggestions are applicable to all residents, regardless of where they live, especially recommendations for what to do if a wildfire is approaching and how to prepare to evacuate (see the end of the fact sheet). However, preparation is expensive and demands a lot of time. Start with the simple suggestions (e.g. keeping the grass close to structures mowed during fire season) and build out from there (creating a noncombustible 5’ zone, installing mesh over vents and under porches, etc.).

Upcoming Opportunities

FACNM Spring Microgrant

Looking to fund your community fire preparedness event? Apply for a FACNM Microgrant! FACNM Leaders and Members are eligible to apply for grants awards of up to $2,000 to provide financial assistance for:

  • convening wildfire preparedness events,

  • enabling on-the-ground community fire risk mitigation work, or

  • developing grant proposals for the sustainable longevity of their Fire Adapted Community endeavor.

The Spring application period is now open and applications will be accepted through March 20, 2026. Successful applicants will be notified of their award by March 30, 2026.

Learn more and apply for funding
 

Join FACNM on Tuesday, March 3, 2026 from 12-1 PM for a webinar featuring the New Mexico Office of Superintendent of Insurance (OSI) as they introduce the Wildfire Prepared Home Program. OSI will provide an overview of the program’s key elements and opportunities now available to residents in NM. OSI will share specific actions homeowners can take to harden their homes and improve surrounding property, how these mitigation efforts are evaluated, and how they may contribute to improved insurability in wildfire-prone areas of New Mexico.

 

The Fire Circle: A Community Fair on Wildfire Mitigation, Response, and Restoration

The New Mexico Forest and Watershed Restoration Institute, Forest Stewards Guild, The Nature Conservancy, New Mexico Forestry Division and Wildfire Resiliency Training Center (WRTC) are hosting a fair-style event, The Fire Circle, at Luna Community College this spring. Attendees will find educational tables and booths, engaging and informational presentations, and family-friendly activities!

This event will provide an approachable space where residents can engage with and access resources related to the full spectrum of wildfire, including mitigation (home hardening, thinning, prescribed fire, etc.), response (suppression, mutual aid, evacuation, etc.), and recovery (forest restoration, community recovery, cascading events, funding, etc.). Please save the date, spread the word, and join us on Saturday, March 21!

The Spark: Wildfire Preparedness is Year Round (February)

February 2026 Edition

Please feel encouraged to adapt and share these materials through your own channels.

About The Spark

The Spark: Wildfire Preparedness is Year-Round is a unified, statewide messaging campaign that promotes year-round wildfire preparedness through consistent and coordinated outreach each month. It is produced by a core group of partners, including FACNM, BLM–New Mexico, NM State Forestry Division, USDA Forest Service Southwestern Region, Forest Stewards Guild, and the New Mexico Forest and Watershed Restoration Institute (NMFWRI).

The bulletin below is designed to communicate wildfire topics to broad audiences, with this month focusing on community wildfire protections plans (CWPPs) and how they benefit community wildfire preparedness.

Download the Bulletin
Download an accessible, readable version of the bulletin
Download a print friendly version of the bulletin

To view The Spark’s main page and view archived Wildfire Preparedness is Year-Round messaging, click here: The Spark: Wildfire Preparedness is Year Round — Fire Adapted NM

Wildfire Wednesdays #177: Using Technology to Improve Fire Detection, Suppression, and Mitigation

Happy Wednesday FACNM community,

As wildfires grow more frequent, communities around the world are looking for better ways to detect ignitions early and stop the spread of wildfire into the built environment. Traditional fire response methods, while still essential, are no longer the only tool available to land managers and community leaders. New technologies are playing a critical role in helping firefighters, emergency managers, and communities respond faster, smarter, and more safely.

From AI-powered cameras to satellite monitoring and drones, technology is reshaping how fires are detected, tracked, mitigated, and suppressed.

This Wildfire Wednesday features:

Be well,
Megan

Technology to Improve Fire Detection, Suppression, and Mitigation

Smarter, Faster Fire Detection

Early detection is one important factor in preventing small fires from becoming large disasters. Historically, wildfires were most commonly reported by residents calling into local dispatch centers or spotted by staff and volunteers stationed in fire lookout towers. While these methods have proven effective over time, they can be slow, particularly as land mangers try to locate the cause of the smoke, or may be hindered by limited visibility.

With today’s technology, advanced detection systems are helping spot fires within minutes of smoke appearing in the air or heat being produced on the ground. These systems provide fire managers with earlier alerts, more precise locations, and better situational awareness at the very beginning of an incident.

Networks of high-definition cameras installed on towers, ridgelines, and mountaintops are now being used to continuously scan large landscapes. These cameras rely on artificial intelligence platforms, such as Pano AI and ALERTWest, to detect smoke patterns and automatically alert fire agencies and other authorized partners. Unlike traditional cameras, AI-enabled systems are trained to distinguish between smoke and non-fire visual disturbances such as fog, dust, or cloud cover, significantly reducing false alarms and improving response confidence.

New Mexico Examples

Screen capture of the camera's view on 2/2/26

The public view of the camera, Tesuque Peak 1, on the ALERTWest website. Visit ALERTWest - Tesuque Peak 1 to view the current camera picture.

One local example is the Tesuque Peak 1 camera, which is publicly viewable on the ALERTWest website. In July 2025, the Greater Santa Fe Fireshed Coalition installed a fire camera atop Tesuque Peak to improve early detection across large portions of the Santa Fe Fireshed. This includes the critically important upper Santa Fe Municipal Watershed, the Pecos Wilderness, and the Rio en Medio and Tesuque drainages—areas where a fast-moving wildfire could have serious impacts on water supply, recreation, and nearby communities. The camera, which can see about 25 miles during the day and 50 miles at night, as well as zoom in up to 40x magnification, continually scans the landscape for smoke. ALERTWest uses artificial intelligence to flag potential fires on the camera feed, which then alerts human technicians to confirm risk and notify local response agencies.

A map of wildfire-detecting camera stations planned for New Mexico through 2026, provided by contractor Pano AI.

A map of wildfire-detecting camera stations planned for New Mexico through 2026, provided by contractor Pano AI. Photo credit: Santa Fe New Mexican.

New Mexico is also expanding its camera-based detection efforts statewide. State officials invested in a pilot program consisting of 11 wildfire detection cameras, to be placed in areas around Santa Fe and Albuquerque. The New Mexico Forestry Division, in partnership with electric utilities Public Service Company of New Mexico (PNM) and Southwestern Public Service Company, has contracted with Pano AI to build out the state’s first comprehensive AI-enabled wildfire detection camera network.

Each tower the company is building includes two rotating, high-resolution cameras that are stitched together to create a 360-degree panoramic image updated every minute. Pano AI uses artificial intelligence trained to detect the earliest signs of smoke. Potential fire starts flagged by the software are then reviewed by analysts on staff before an alert is sent to local emergency response agencies and dispatchers. The camera network can provide precise location data for wildfires, enabling agencies to send the appropriate amount of staff and resources to the right location.

Satellites are also playing a critical role in early wildfire detection. Modern satellite systems are used by researchers, fire officials, and land managers to identify heat signatures and smoke plumes across large regions, including remote or inaccessible terrain. In some cases, satellites can detect a fire before it is visible from the ground, providing agencies with a valuable head start—especially in areas without ground-based detection infrastructure.

Real-time Data for Better Decisions

Detecting a fire earlier is only the first step. Once a fire ignites, technology helps responders access accurate, real-time information to guide decisions about suppression, evacuations, and firefighter safety.

Drones—often referred to as unmanned aerial systems (UAS)—are increasingly used to support firefighting operations. Drones can quickly provide eyes on the ground in places where it may be unsafe, inefficient, or impossible to send crews. They allow fire managers to gather information about an unfolding incident much faster than a traditional on-the-ground size-up. Drones also allow opportunities for surveillance in areas with dangerous terrain or during low visibility, some of the most dangerous conditions for wildland fire pilots.

Equipped with thermal imaging cameras, drones can fly over active fires to locate lingering hotspots hidden by smoke, vegetation, or darkness. Without this technology, firefighters often must physically walk burn scars to search for remaining heat, an effort that can take significant time and manpower depending on a fire’s size. Drone data allows crews to be dispatched more safely and efficiently, focusing only on areas that are still producing heat and pose a risk of reignition.

Drones are also particularly valuable during overnight operations, when manned aircraft are often grounded due to safety concerns. UAS can continue collecting data on fire behavior, helping incident commanders maintain situational awareness around the clock. In post-fire situations, drones also help assess damage quickly, allowing communities to plan recovery efforts sooner and more effectively.

Innovations in Fire Suppression

Seneca drone dispensing water to put out a spot fire.

Seneca drone dispensing aerated Class A foam at a precise target. Photo credit: Seneca.

Technology is also changing how fires are suppressed once they are detected. Companies like Seneca, a resilience technology firm, are developing aerial systems designed to support fire suppression using artificial intelligence to locate and attack fires before they spread. Seneca’s drones can carry more than 100 pounds of water or foam, deploy suppression agents at over 100 PSI, and be launched remotely by an operator from any location. These systems have the potential to reduce response times to under ten minutes, allowing fires to be attacked during the critical early window when a single ignition could otherwise grow into a large incident.

Drones are also now being used to deliver supplies to firefighters working in difficult or dangerous terrain. While they have not replaced traditional logistics operations, drones are proving useful for delivering small but essential items such as water, tools, and medical supplies, when speed, access, and safety are priorities.

In wildfire-prone regions, utilities are also adopting technology to reduce ignition risk. Sensors and automated shutoff systems are being used to de-energize power lines during extreme wind events, helping prevent electrical equipment from sparking fires under dangerous conditions.

Supporting Mitigation and Communities

USFS UAS operator explains the system to members of the New Mexico’s All Hands All Lands Burn Team. Drone sits on a helipad landing.

USFS UAS operator explains the system to members of New Mexico’s All Hands All Lands burn team.

Beyond detection and suppression, technology is playing a growing role in mitigation and prescribed fire operations. Drones are now commonly used to support prescribed burns by conducting aerial ignitions. These UAS can carry ping-pong-ball-sized ignition spheres filled with a potassium-based compound that ignites on impact, allowing managers to ignite large interior areas of units without needing to send in crews with torches.

This past fall, the Carson National Forest used a UAS to support ignitions during the Ojo Sarco prescribed burn. Ariel ignitions allowed firefighters to avoid steep, dangerous terrain and focus their efforts on holding the line downwind to ensure that fire did not cross onto private property or impact the water delivery infrastructure for the community of Ojo Sarco.

Prescribed burns and vegetation thinning are also increasingly guided by data and modeling tools. Using smart sensors and high-resolution imagery from drones and ground-based systems, researchers are training models to process real-time environmental data alongside weather forecasts and historical fire behavior. These tools help land managers better understand how a planned burn may behave across a specific landscape, with the ability to account for factors like fuel types, slope, and topography.

A man operating a remote controlled masticator.

Luis Sotto, a foreman with BurnBot, works on fuel mitigation Tuesday with a masticator on the Rim Trail in Los Alamos. Photo credit: Michael G. Seamans/The New Mexican.

Technology is also being used for fuel mitigation. Los Alamos County Fire has contracted BurnBot, a California-based company, to do fuel removal using a remote controlled masticator and a “BurnBot,” which is a vehicle that conducts prescribed burns in a chamber and then suppresses them. The benefit of this technology, particularly the masticators, is they run on slopes that conventional masticators would not be able to operate on and the speed at which the technology works. According to reporting by The Santa Fe New Mexican, two BurnBot mastication machines can treat approximately three acres per day, a task that would typically take a 20-person crew nearly twice as long since they have to cut the fuel and then return for chipping.

Looking Ahead

Technology alone will not solve the growing wildfire challenge. However, many fire professionals increasingly view technology as a force multiplier, augmenting existing capacity rather than replacing firefighters. Tools like drones, cameras, and satellites can significantly expand a department’s ability to detect, respond to, and suppress fires threatening communities and critical infrastructure.

As noted in a Grist article, drones are “far from a silver bullet.” Battery life is limited, they can only complete flights of about 15 minutes on average, and human verification, often referred to as “ground truthing,” is still essential. Therefore, technology works best when paired with experienced personnel and strong operational planning.

One of the biggest challenges moving forward is ensuring that under-resourced fire departments and non-federal land management organizations can access and sustain these tools. While technology has proven effective across the West, long-term investment and funding are needed so innovation can keep pace with increasing wildfire risk and so tools like fire cameras and UAS can be adopted more widely across New Mexico.

Learn More and Stay Engaged

Webinars

  • Lead by the IAFC Technology Council, "Tech Talk Tuesdays" occur twice a month as live discussions where professionals dive into the latest advancements in public safety technology. Each session features interviews and demos with first responder leaders, exploring innovative solutions and real-world applications that are shaping the future of emergency response.

Conferences

  • Attend the Red Sky Summit, hosted by by Convective Capital, with support from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation and other philanthropic sponsors. The Summit’s objective is to develop and scale innovative, technology-based solutions to the wildfire crisis.

    • Date: November 4, 2026 | San Francisco, CA

  • Attend the Technology Summit International (TSI), hosted by the International Association of Fire Chiefs. Sessions dig in with hands-on, face-to-face, and problem-focused experiences. This is a chance to test tools, question experts, and explore opportunities and challenges with the professionals across the fire service.

    • Date: December 8-10, 2026 | Denver, CO

Upcoming Opportunities and Additonal Resources

The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) Wildfire Programs is accepting proposals from fire departments for Fuels Reduction Projects.

The goal is to facilitate on-the-ground fuel reduction projects in communities across the country. The funding opportunity is for fire and emergency response agencies to implement or expand community fuels-reduction projects in their jurisdictions. Funding can support staffing costs, contractual services, purchase of mitigation PPE, and purchase of small equipment (valued at less than $5,000). Fire departments that work closely with the Forest Service and other partners on cross-boundary fuels-reduction projects and that demonstrate financial need will receive the highest priority for funding.

A maximum of $15,000 per department is available, with a minimum cash match of 5% of the award total. Applications are due February 27, 2026 at 11:59 PM EDT.

Apply Now
 

NM Forestry Division: Hiring a Wildfire Prepared Program Coordinator

The New Mexico Forestry Division is hiring a full‑time Wildfire Prepared Program Coordinator, based in either Albuquerque or Santa Fe. This position will lead a new statewide initiative designed to help homes and properties in New Mexico better withstand wildfire.

The position duties include coordinating the New Mexico Fire Planning Task Force and analyzing data and preparing the annual Communities At Risk report. The position will work closely with other state agencies to develop standards for defensible space and wildfire prepared structures; create grant guidelines, eligibility requirements and scoring criteria for expenditures from the Wildfire Prepared Fund; create policies and procedures for the Wildfire Prepared Program including allocating budget and setting budget priorities; and more.

Application closes February 11, 2026.

Learn more and Apply Now
 

This webinar from the Southwest Fire Science Consortium and Southern Rockies Fire Science Network will highlight findings from the Wildland Firefighter Health Scoping Review, which analyzed more than 250 studies published between 1985–2025. The review shows that while some groups—like Interagency Hotshot Crews—are frequently studied, others, including support personnel, receive far less attention. Research on cancer, cardiovascular disease, and other chronic disease risks is growing, but long-term health studies remain scarce. Although many strategies have been proposed to reduce health risks, few have been formally evaluated.

This webinar will also introduce the Wildland Firefighters’ Science Needs Assessment, a new effort to identify priority research areas and strengthen collaboration between practitioners and researchers to better support firefighter health and wellbeing.

Register Now
 

Understanding Forestry Terms: A Glossary for Private Landowners

In discussing forest land management and forest operations, you will often hear and read words and phrases that are unique to the natural resources professions. You will also encounter some common terms that have special meanings when applied to forestry. NC State Extension published a list of terms that defines more than 150 forest resource terms to help everyone in conversing about forestry matters and to help make informed decisions about your forestland.

View the full Glossary

Wildfire Wednesday #176: Evaluating the Effects of Fire (FEMO)

Happy Friday, Fire Adapted community!

Land managers, fire personnel, private landowners, and others all work, in varying capacities, to care for the land under their jurisdiction. However, caring for the land can mean different things, to different people, in different places. We live in a fire-adapted environment, so fire (prescribed or wildfire) is one consideration when thinking about caring for and managing the land.

It all begs the question - how do we understand the effects of our land management decisions? How do we improve our management of wildfire, intentional fire, and fire-adapted ecosystems? This is where monitoring (observing and tracking changes in ecosystems over time) and observations-based adaptive management comes in. For fire specifically, we can monitor fire effects (the way that fire changes the area it burns through) to understand the conditions and tools used to influence fire outcomes. Today’s newsletter dives deeper into the what, where, and why of Fire Effects Monitoring.

This Fire Friday features:

Be well,
Rachel

Fire Effects Monitoring: the Basics

What is Fire Effects Monitoring?

A visualization of the adaptive management cycle.
Illustration credit: National Park Service.

Fire effects monitoring is a term used to describe the observation and evaluation of landscape conditions before, during, and after fires. It helps us understand how those fires impact ecosystems, assess management effectiveness, ensure firefighter safety, and guide future land management decisions (a process called adaptive management).

Why is it done?

  • Safety: observations provide real-time information on fire behavior, spread, perimeter location, and changing conditions that can impact these things for tactical decisions during burns.

  • Effectiveness: monitoring measures ecosystem health, damage, and benefits over time, providing unbiased data that can be used to evaluate if fires meet hazardous fuel reduction/ecological goals or otherwise improve ecosystem health and function.

  • Knowledge: knowing real-world fire effects provides actionable data and lessons learned for adaptive management, providing suggestions for improvement on future burns.

Who does it?

A fire effects monitor records on-site weather data (temperature, relative humidity, wind, etc.) prior to ignitions on a prescribed burn. Having up-to-date weather and conditions information allows burn managers to make the best decisions about how, where, and if to light a burn. In this photo, a red pocket kit with scientific tools for measuring weather parameters can been seen sitting on top of the FEMO’s fire pack.

Fire Effects Monitoring Officers (FEMOs), also called Fire Effects Monitors, collect data to inform their team’s understanding of what fire is doing and changing on the ground and help managers assess safety and achieve objectives. They are individuals who have experience with fire and have received training on how to measure and evaluate the different metrics necessary to determine fire effects. Depending on their affiliation, these Monitors will follow different Fire Effects Monitoring protocols and focus on collecting different data. For example, Monitors with the National Park Service regularly and frequently collect in-depth environmental data from specific locations (called plots), allowing them to directly compare pre-fire conditions to post-fire measurements (check out the NPS monitoring handbook for more information). Monitors with the U.S. Forest Service generally focus on providing their personal observations of wildfires to their module leader, crew boss, or other fireline supervisors to inform safety, suppression, and tactical decisions. Monitors with nonprofits, universities, and other organizations will tailor monitoring protocols to their unique needs, or the needs of each individual burn (e.g. focusing on smoke observations during a prescribed burn to ensure that nearby communities are not being unnecessarily impacted).

What is collected?

FEMO data collection can include measurements of fuel (amount and condition of flammable material), fire behavior, weather, smoke, and environmental effects on vegetation and fuels. On wildfires, monitoring helps maintain tactical situational awareness for the safety of fire crews and determine whether the team is achieving incident goals. On intentional (prescribed or controlled) burns, monitoring helps to ensure that fire behavior and effects remain within the range of conditions allowed by the prescription (the fire plan which establishes objectives, desired effects, and allowable fire behavior). Some data, like weather observations and fire behavior and spread, will generally be collected daily for each day that the fire is active, while other data, like measurements of fuel and vegetation moisture or amount of fuel consumed, will be collected less frequently. The type and frequency of data collection is based on incident management needs, reporting requirements, and objectives.

How FEMO Findings Are Used

So what happens to all of this monitoring data?

During a burn, a FEMO’s observations may be used to improve the SPOT weather forecast (a location-specific hourly weather forecast from NOAA) or help the burn boss (individual overseeing a prescribed burn) understand whether they are meeting their burn objectives. This can help the whole team adjust their actions and be immediately reactive to improve outcomes in the short-term (while a fire is ongoing).

An example FEMO report from a prescribed burn in west-central New Mexico. The contents of the report will vary based on landowner needs and the individual writing the report, but they will generally contain maps and background on the burn, objectives and methods, a summary of the burn activities and weather, and detailed information on the burn behavior, smoke, and fire effects.

After a burn, FEMO observations may be summarized into a report which is shared with all incident leaders and partners. FEMO reports provide a clear and fully encompassing written record of a fire’s background, timeline, effects, and lessons learned. They can be referred to after the fact, allowing fire practitioners and managers to see the big picture, learn from their mistakes, and adapt their approach for the next burn, leading to better outcomes in the long term. (e.g. A fire manager might see that fuels reduction objectives were not met because the temperature was low and humidity was high, moderating fire intensity and behavior. From this they could learn that they’ll need to burn that area a little hotter next time to consume the slash and woody debris they want gone.)

FEMO reports can also be shared with external partners and agencies, contributing to collective and collaborative knowledge sharing. As lifelong students of fire there is always something to learn from others’ experiences.

Ecological Benefits of Fire

Periodic, low- to moderate-intensity fire can have many positive effects across ecosystems. Keep reading to learn more or click on any of these resources to dive deeper.

Deep duff, or pine needles and other forest debris, can be seen piled at the base of this fire-adapted ponderosa pine tree following decades of fire suppression and interruption of the natural fire cycle. Reintroduction of fire to these systems can “clean up” the forest, cycle nutrients back into the soil, and help restore resilience to severe fire, drought, and pests and disease.
Photo credit: Sharon Hood

“Cleans” the forest floor

  • When fire travels through the forest understory, it removes the topmost layer of leaves, needles, and dead or decaying plants. By removing this debris, it opens up space on the forest floor where growth of new plants is encouraged and reduces the amount of fuel that could burn in a future fire, therefore reducing the likelihood of negative future outcomes.

  • Returns nutrients to soil

    The relationship between fire and soil nutrients is complex because of the interactions among many factors. Some soil nutrients will be lost as a low- to moderate-intensity fire consumes organic material in the upper soil layers (greater nutrient losses occurs with higher fire intensity). However, in the long-term fire helps to kickstart the nutrient cycle (the amount of available nutrients in an ecosystem) by increasing soil nutrient turnover rates and redistributing nutrients through the soil profile. For example, soil fertility increases after low-intensity fire as the fire chemically converts nutrients in dead plants that would otherwise take much longer to decay and return to the soil.

  • Increases diversity

    When fire is removed from or suppressed in fire-adapted forests, it leads to over-crowding (trees growing thick and dense) and prevents sunlight from reaching the forest floor, creating intense competition for water and available nutrients. Low- and moderate-intensity fire creates gaps in the canopy, allowing sunlight to filter through and (after several years) increasing the availability of soil nutrients and water. The right kind of fire can also reduce invasive/noxious weed infestations, allowing an opportunity for native plants to grow and establish. Some native species require fire for seed germination!

  • Creates new habitat

    Fire removes thick brush, maintains open meadows, and thins out dense forests, all creating new habitat for animals and birds. Trees that do not survive the fire create new habitat for insects and cavity nesting birds and animals. When a fire burns in a mosaic pattern (burns at variable intensity and severity depending on the terrain and conditions), it creates a diverse patchwork of habitat for different species of wildlife.

  • Kills pests and diseases

    Fire can reduce or eradicate populations of beetles, mites and other harmful pests, reducing disease and keeping forests healthier.

The fire cycle, simplified.
Photo credit: Harvey Mudd College

Additional Resources

Upcoming Webinars

27 January, 12pm MT: Aspen Restoration Using Intentional Fire: A Case Study from Monroe Mountain, UT
This webinar from the Southwest Fire Science Consortium and Southern Rockies Fire Science Network will offer information on an aspen restoration case study from south-central Utah which used high-intensity, high-severity prescribed fire coupled with conifer thinning to improve aspen ecosystem health.

Register Now

4 February, 11:30am MT: Loss of Old-Growth Forest to Fire
Fire suppression and past selective logging of large trees have fundamentally changed frequent-fire-adapted forests. In this Prescribed Fire for Forest Management series webinar, speaker Scott Stephens will discuss the multiple pathways for achieving success in management of mixed conifer forests, with a focus on the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

Join Link

10 February, 11am MT: Fuel Break Effectiveness: What Have We Learned So Far?

Jen Croft, Stephen Filmore, Mark Finney, Kit O’Connor, Brad Pietruszka and Erin Belval will be the panelists for this webinar in the USDA Forest Service Research & Development Deep Dive Panel Discussions series. This series is intended for fire, fuels and land managers on critical topics associated with fuels and fire management.

Register Now

12 February, 1pm MT: Policy Update on the Fix Our Forests Act (FOFA)
This policy update presentation from the Forest Stewards Guild and Southwest Fire Science Consortium will provide insights into the Fix Our Forests Act, including the uptake of wildfire management recommendations to congress and the potential impacts on federal land management agencies and the forests they oversee.

Register Now

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Resources

Annual Round Up: Science You Can Use
2025 marked another year of impactful science from the USDA - Rocky Mountain Research Station. Now, all of their bite-sized and information-packed Science You Can Use bulletins, fact sheets, and more from the past year are available in one place, from bees to beavers and biochar to smoke! To listen instead, you can now stream their science.
Click here to view a multi-year archive of science briefs from the RMRS.

View the 2025 collection

Opinion Article from the NM State Forester: Wildfire prevention costs less than suppression
In this article, New Mexico state forester Laura McCarthy calls wildfire prevention “suppression’s undercover partner” and identifies the three fronts for fire prevention: public awareness and early detection, fuel treatments, and individual defensible space and home hardening action. You can learn about the difference between fire prevention and fire suppression in Wildfire Wednesday #107.

Read the article

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Funding

New Mexico Counties is pleased to announce the 2026-2027 Wildfire Risk Reduction Program. The grant program assists communities throughout New Mexico in reducing their risk from wildland fire on non-federal lands. Funding for this program is provided by the National Fire Plan through the Department of the Interior/Bureau of Land Management for communities in the wildland-urban interface and is intended to directly benefit communities that may be impacted by wildland fire initiating from or spreading to BLM public land. 

 Funding categories include:

  • CWPP updates up to $30,000/project

  • Education and outreach activities up to $20,000/project

  • Hazardous fuels reduction projects up to $100,000/project

The application and checklist are located on the NMC website: https://www.nmcounties.org/services/programs/

Click to view the application packet
Click to view the application form