Press Releases

SANTA FE – Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernández requested that the U.S. Government Accountability (GAO) investigates the process that the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) uses to conduct prescribed burns. The Congresswoman requested that GAO provide recommendations to the USFS and Congress to reduce wildfire risk associated with prescribed burns.  Today’s request comes after the USFS admitted to causing both the Calf Canyon and Hermit’s Peak Wildfires. The letter requests answers to specific questions, including ways to improve community input and communication for prescribed burns.

“It is outrageous that USFS started both the Calf Canyon and Hermit’s Peak Wildfires which caused thousands of people to evacuate and immeasurable destruction. I want an independent federal investigation so that no other community in New Mexico or the United States suffers the destruction we have seen from these catastrophic wildfires. Clearly, USFS needs to enact substantive reforms to ensure accountability and restore trust in their use of prescribed burns to protect our forests. My Hermit’s Peak Fire Assistance Act will provide compensation from these prescribed fires but we must also protect our forests from future fires,” said Rep. Leger Fernández.

“We know our local Native American and Hispano communities have been stewards of these forests for generations, their input into the USFS protocols for managing the forest is essential,” added Rep. Leger Fernández.

Background

Last week the U.S. Forest Service announced that it caused the Calf Canyon Fire. The Calf Canyon Fire was caused by a USFS prescribed pile burn that occurred in January, 2022 and remained dormant until it reignited in April, 2022.  

The Hermit’s Peak Fire started as a result of an approved prescribed fire plan ignited by the U.S. Forest Service fire personnel in the Santa Fe National Forest. The Hermit’s Peak Fire subsequently merged with the Calf Canyon Fire to become the biggest 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 Congresswoman introduced the Hermit's Peak Fire Assistance Act (H.R. 7721) to compensate New Mexico residents and business owners impacted by the Hermit's Peak and Calf Canyon Fire. 

Allowable damages under The Hermit’s Peak Fire Assistance Act (H.R. 7721):

• 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.

Note: If you or someone you know is impacted by the fire, you may be eligible for federal assistance. Please call 800-621-3362 or visit disasterassistance.gov to learn more.

Read the full text of the letter HERE.

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