Press Releases

Today, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has named Col. Jay Mitchell as the Director of Operations, leading the day-to-day operations for both the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Claims Office (Claims Office) and Stafford Act wildfire disaster recovery operations based in Santa Fe. Mitchell is expected to begin in May and will be supported in his transition by leadership at FEMA. 

“I am relieved FEMA heeded our calls to choose a new director for the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Claims Office with strong New Mexico ties who will be ready to cut the red tape and get money out as quickly and as painlessly as possible and to the fullest amount the law allows.” said Congresswoman Leger Fernández.

“Director Mitchell and I spoke tonight about the need to ensure as many people as possible receive every penny they are entitled to thanks to the law Senator Lujan and I carried. The purpose of this law is for the federal government to accept responsibility for the damage it caused—0it is now Director Mitchell’s charge to ensure people are paid what they deserve. I look forward to working alongside Director Mitchell to bring justice to the victims of the Hermit's Peak/Calf Canyon Fire,” she concluded.

Background: 

Mitchell is a former director of New Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. He brings over 30 years of military and civilian experience where he has overseen teams in support of emergency management operations. He joins the Claims Office which has been actively engaged in operational improvements for the last several months that have significantly increased the speed of payments.

On April 6th, 2022, the Forest Service initiated the Las Dispensas-Gallinas prescribed burn on Federal land in the Santa Fe National Forest when erratic winds were prevalent in the area that was also suffering from severe drought after many years of insufficient precipitation. That same day, the prescribed burn, which became known as the ‘‘Hermit’s Peak Fire’’, exceeded the containment capabilities of the Forest Service, and was declared a wildfire.

On April 19, 2022, the Calf Canyon Fire began burning on Federal land and was later identified  as the result of a pile burn in January 2022 that remained dormant under the surface before reemerging. On April 27, 2022, the Hermit’s Peak Fire and the Calf Canyon Fire merged. 

On May 4th, Congresswoman Leger Fernández and the entire New Mexico delegation called on President Biden to declare a major disaster for the State of New Mexico in response to the ongoing wildfires. President Biden declared the wildfire a major disaster that same day. 

On May 5th, 2022, Congresswoman Leger Fernández demanded answers from the U.S. Forest Service in response to the wildfire and called on the Forest Service to take responsibility. Five days later, the Forest Service released their review of the Las Dispensas prescribed burn and took responsibility for the Hermit’s Peak wildfire. Shortly after, the Forest Service paused all prescribed burning across the country while they conducted an internal review, released later that year.

On May 11th, 2022, Congresswoman Leger Fernández and Senator Ben Ray Lujan introduced the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire Assistance Act to compensate victims of the wildfire.

On June 2nd, 2022, Congresswoman Leger Fernández requested an independent investigation of the U.S. Forest Service’s prescribed fire methods and policies by the Government Accountability Office. The investigation is expected to be released in the coming months. 

On June 11th, 2022, Congresswoman Leger Fernández met with President Joe Biden in New Mexico and urged him to waive cost share requirements for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Emergency Watershed Protection Program. The Congresswoman sent a follow up letter urging the Secretary of Agriculture to take this action and on June 15th, secured his commitment to cover 100 percent of costs for the Emergency Watershed Protection Program. 

On August 21st, 2022, the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon wildfire was finally contained after burning for 148 days and destroying 341,471 acres of land. 

On September 26th, 2022, Congresswoman Leger Fernández hosted then House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in New Mexico to meet with survivors of the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Wildfire. 

On September 27th, 2022, the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire Assistance Act along with $2.5 billion dollars in aid was included in the House proposed federal budget. 

On September 30th, 2022, both the House and Senate passed the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire Assistance Act which provided $2.5 billion in funding to compensate survivors of the wildfire and waived cost shares for all U.S. Department of Agriculture disaster relief programs. President Biden signed the bill into law that same day. 

On December 20th, 2022, Congresswoman Leger Fernandez secured an additional $1.45 billion for the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Claims Office. 

On January 4th, 2023, Congresswoman Leger Fernández and the entire New Mexico delegation urged FEMA to make changes to their interim final regulations for the Hermit's Peak/Calf Canyon Fire Assistance Act to better serve New Mexicans. These requested changes included hiring navigators, allowing flexibility for claimants who lack documentation, removing caps to payments for tree loss and hazard risk reduction measures, and other requests.

On April 26th, 2023, Congresswoman Leger Fernández secured commitment from U.S. Forest Service Chief Randy Moore to work with her and the GAO to implement the GAO’s recommendations to improve prescribed burn management.

On May 10th, 2023 and again on August 8th, 2023, Congresswoman Leger Fernández and Senators Lujan and Heinrich urged the federal government to publish the final rule for the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire Assistance Act. The final regulations were published August 29th, 2023. 

On October 11th, 2023, Congresswoman Leger Fernández and Senator Lujan introduced the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Extension Act to keep the Claims Office open through 2027 and extend the eligibility timeline for claimants to request compensation for flooding damage. 

On January 23rd, 2024, Congresswoman Leger Fernández and Senators Lujan and Heinrich urged FEMA Administrator Criswellto expedite the claims process for Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon wildfire victims and expressed concern over delays.

On January 24th, 2024, Congresswoman Leger Fernández and Senator Lujan met with FEMA Administrator Criswell to push her for answers as to why the Claims Office was facing so many delays and urged her to immediately hire more staff to improve the claims process.