two Wildfires (Hermitz Peak / Calf Canyon Fire and Gila National Forest Black Fire, just northeast of Santa Fe) continue to burn at a historic pace.
Both fires broke the previous record of 297,845 acres from the 2012 White Water Ball Dee Fire.
The fire not only consumed more than 600,000 acres of woodland, but also brought more than $ 220 million to fight the flames.
June and July are usually the two most active months of wildfires in the state, and this total is expected to increase.
Why this year is so bad
Jim Wallman, a meteorologist at the National Inter-Ministry Fire Center, said the unusually dry and windy spring combination in New Mexico exacerbated CNN’s Ella Nilsen fire condition.
“The risk of fuel and fire increased rapidly in April because it was a drier and more serious wind event,” Wallman said. “In May, we saw record-breaking New Mexico settings.”
Wildfires occur in another year of severe drought in the southwest. The latest US drought monitor report on Thursday morning showed an exceptional increase in drought. This is the highest level that currently covers almost 50% of New Mexico.
The Hermit Peak / Calf Canyon fire has been on fire since May 19th. Approximately 3,000 personnel were tasked with fighting the flames, and as of Thursday afternoon, containment slowly rose to 65%. The higher the containment number, the better the firefighter has control over the fire.
Due to the dry condition, a tinderbox was created throughout the area. Albuquerque hasn’t seen any measurable rainfall since March 30, but so far this year it manages only 0.85 inches of rainfall, which is only 39% of normal rainfall.
Two large wildfires throughout New Mexico have cumulatively consumed an area about the same size as Rhode Island.
More states to fight fire
This year’s wildfire activity is not limited to New Mexico. Currently, there are 16 major fires in four states, including Arizona, Colorado, and Alaska. To date, more than 28,000 wildfires have occurred in 2022, consuming more than 2 million acres. According to the National Interagency Fire Center, this is the second most annual burning acre in the last decade.
So much land was scorched in the west, and even the possibility of rainfall created its own danger. On Wednesday, a thunderstorm was predicted in parts of northern New Mexico, and the National Weather Service in Albuquerque issued a flood warning with an interesting warning.The agency warned that it was “only 0.25 inches” Heavy rainfall can cause flash floods in the burn scars. “
Extreme heat makes it more difficult for firefighters to fight fires and increase containment.
Source: www.cnn.com
