Press Releases

Today, Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.) and U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.)  introduced the Hermit's Peak Fire Assistance Act to allow for additional damages to be paid to New Mexico residents and business owners impacted by the Hermit's Peak Fire or the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fires.  

Beginning April 6, 2022, the Hermit’s Peak Fire started as a result of an approved prescribed fire plan ignited by U.S. Forest Service fire personnel in the Santa Fe National Forest. Hermit’s Peak Fire subsequently merged with the Calf Canyon Fire to become the second largest fire in New Mexico’s history and both fires were reported as the Hermit’s Peak Fire or the Hermit’s Peak Fire/Calf Canyon Fire. The fire resulted in evacuations of more than 25,000 individuals in San Miguel and Mora Counties. More than 1,800 personnel are engaged around the clock to battle this wind-driven fire, including firefighters from local, Federal, and out-of-state units. 

The Hermit’s Peak Fire Assistance Act would require FEMA to design and administer a program for fully compensating those who suffered personal injury or business, income, and financial losses resulting from the Hermit’s Peak Fire.

"Everyone in New Mexico is grieving over the loss of our beautiful forests, communities and memories, from Gallinas canyon to the meadows and mesas in Mora where cattle and elk grazed, and the streams that nourished our acequias and farmlands.  We will not replace in our lifetimes the forest landscape. But the federal government can and must take responsibility for the harm the prescribed burn unleashed on our homelands,” said Leger Fernández. 

“The federal government compensated the residents of Los Alamos county harmed by the prescribed burn-induced  Cerro Grande wildfire – we must do the same for the residents of Mora and San Miguel counties harmed by the Las Dispensas prescribed burn.” added Leger Fernández. 

“As the Hermit’s Peak Fire continues to leave a devastating impact on our state, the federal government must take responsibility for its role in this fire and remain active in providing relief to New Mexicans whose daily lives have been upended,” said Senator Luján. “While we don’t know the full extent of damage from this catastrophic fire, I’m introducing legislation that would require FEMA to fully compensate New Mexico residents and business owners who’ve been impacted. It’s critical to get this legislation swiftly to President Biden’s desk to get this relief out to our communities urgently to support the recovery process.”

“The historic wildfires burning across our state have put so many New Mexicans in impossible situations. I am working closely with our entire congressional delegation to pull every lever we can to usher the federal resources New Mexico needs to respond to these fires, rebuild our homes and communities, and combat the elevated wildfire risks fueled by the climate crisis going forward. I’m proud to introduce this legislation to support families and businesses in northern New Mexico impacted by the Hermits Peak-Calf Canyon Complex Fire so they can recover from this devastation,” said Heinrich.

“Our communities are experiencing unprecedented early-season wildfires, leaving devastating impacts on our state and forcing evacuations across New Mexico,” said Stansbury. “As the Hermit’s Peak Fire continues to disrupt the lives of families across New Mexico, I’m proud to introduce legislation that would require FEMA to fully compensate New Mexico residents who have faced the impacts of the Hermit’s Peak Fire.”

Allowable damages under The Hermit’s Peak Fire Assistance Act:

• Loss of property, including: an uninsured or underinsured property loss; a decrease in the value of real property; damage to physical infrastructure including irrigation infrastructure; a cost resulting from lost subsistence from hunting, fishing, firewood gathering, timbering, grazing, or agricultural activities conducted on land damaged by the fire; a cost of reforestation or revegetation on Tribal or non-Federal land;
• Business loss, to include: damage to tangible assets or inventory; business interruption losses; overhead costs; and employee wages for work not performed;
• Financial loss, to include: increased mortgage interest costs; in insurance deductible; a temporary living or relocation expense; lost wages or personal income; emergency staffing expenses; debris removal and other cleanup costs; a premium for flood insurance; and costs for efforts to reduce the risk of wildfire, flood, or other natural disaster in the counties specified in the major disaster declaration; and
• Any other damages that the FEMA Administrator determines to be appropriate for inclusion as property, business, or financial loss.

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