Santa Fe, NM –The New Mexico State Forestry Division (NMSF) is sending help to western states affected by ongoing wildfires. 116 personnel, including 40 members of the Returning Heroes Wildland Firefighter Program, are supporting teams on fires in California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, and Utah.
“Wildfire is an inevitability for our western neighbors, just as it is in our state,” said State Forester Eddie Tudor. “It is an honor to have New Mexico State Forestry’s firefighters respond to these requests. When our fire activity slows, our resources are prepared to respond to out-of-state calls for aid. Working in different wildfire situations gives crews the chance to acquire new skills to use here at home.”
The firefighters are assisting on 11 total fires. Most of the resources are assigned to five major incidents in California, including the Soberanes Fire near Monterey. The Soberanes Fire has burned approximately 92,000 acres to date.
Should a new fire start here, NMSF still has numerous firefighters available throughout the state. The height of New Mexico’s wildfire season typically ends with the arrival of monsoon weather. Since June, 347 wildfires have occurred on state and private lands in New Mexico. Earlier in the summer, counterparts from Colorado, the Dakotas, and Wyoming assisted on some of these incidents.