In April 2022, the U.S. Forest Service started the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire, which became the largest wildfire in New Mexico history and caused enormous devastation throughout San Miguel and Mora Counties. Congresswoman Leger Fernández and the entire New Mexico delegation quickly secured a major disaster declaration to unlock assistance for New Mexicans through the Stafford Act.
In the years since the fire occurred, Congresswoman Leger Fernandez has met with countless individuals, acequias, businesses, and local officials to hear their stories. She has convened meetings with FEMA officials to share information on available resources and make sure the federal government understands New Mexico’s unique culture and needs. No one deserves the pain that the fire caused.
Congresswoman Leger Fernandez has also fought to hold the federal government accountable for starting the fire. In May, she demanded answers from the U.S. Forest Service. Shortly after, it took responsibility for the fire and paused all prescribed burns while conducting an internal review. She also secured an independent investigation by the GAO into the Forest Service’s prescribed burn policies. These investigations have led to numerous improvements to make sure future prescribed burns do not escape.
Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire Assistance Act
Congresswoman Leger Fernández and Senator Ben Ray Lujan introduced the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire Assistance Act. The bill was enacted into law in 2022 along with $3.95 billion to compensate victims of the wildfire. It also waived cost shares for all U.S. Department of Agriculture disaster relief programs. This nearly unprecedented compensation is in addition to the assistance FEMA typically provides after a natural disaster.
Still, bureaucratic issues and hurdles have delayed compensation for far too many. Congresswoman Leger Fernández recently brought FEMA Administrator Criswell to the burn scar to meet directly with claimants and hear their stories of hardship. She’ll continue to press FEMA to get New Mexicans the compensation they deserve as quickly as possible and to make sure the claims process is as transparent as possible.
About Hermit’s Peak Claims Office Compensation:
To apply for compensation from the Hermit’s Peak Claims Office, please visit https://www.fema.gov/hermits-peak, call 505-995-7133, or email fema-hermits-peak@fema.dhs.gov. The deadline to file a claim is December 20, 2024.
If you have any issues with your claim, please contact my casework staff by calling (505) 428-4680.
Who is Eligible?
Any individual; business; acequia; non-profit; state, local, or tribal government that suffered losses because of the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire, including flooding related to the fires.
What Losses Can You Claim?
- Property
- Loss of home, barns, and everything in the home/barns that burned; subsistence from hunting or firewood gathering; woods that burned including the value of lumber to be harvested in future years
- Business
- Damage to assets including equipment, trees, cattle; wages; losses when forced to close
- Financial
- Lost wages, cost to relocate, costs you paid to remove debris, insurance premiums, flood insurance (if not previously required), insurance deductible
- Mitigation Measures
- Actions to make property less vulnerable to future flooding or fires
- Governmental Losses
Note: If you choose to hire a lawyer, attorney's fees are capped at 20%.
How Does this Compare to the Regular FEMA Disaster Assistance?
Stafford Act Claims (Normal FEMA) Intended to be a safety net Only covers most basic primary housing needs Limited assistance available for very limited purposes Doesn’t cover business losses Compensation capped at $37,900 | Hermit’s Peak Claims Separate NEW program created by legislation Covers secondary residences, barns, fencing, roads, trees, etc Covers financial and business losses Provides compensatory damages for loss No financial caps |
Please check out Rep. Leger Fernandez’s Wildfire Resources Guide for additional forms of assistance that may be available to you.
