Fire officer Ralph Lucas points to a forest lit by Calf Canyon near Holman, New Mexico, US, May 24, 2022. The picture was taken on May 24, 2022.
Andrew Hey | Reuters
The US Forest Service failed to account for the effects of climate change when it carried out a controlled burn in April that prompted the largest wildfire in New Mexico history, the agency said. said in a report Published on Tuesday.
According to the agency’s 80-page review, the agency relied on multiple miscalculations, inclement weather data and underestimated dry conditions in the Southwest when crews ignited a scheduled burn, which led to a running fire. There was a fire in Rahe Calf Valley / Hermit’s Creek.
flame, which More than 341,000 acres have been burnt and destroyed hundreds of homes in New Mexico, comes amid prolonged droughts and extreme temperatures in the West.
“The devastating impact of this fire to the communities and livelihoods of those affected in New Mexico calls for this level of review so that we can better understand how this tragic event unfolded,” said Forest Service Chief Randy Moore. said in a statement, “I cannot overstate how heartbreaking these effects are on communities and individuals.”
Droughts, extreme weather, wind conditions and unpredictable weather changes pose significant challenges for the Forest Service, which uses scheduled burning to reduce the risk of catastrophic fires. controlled burns have historically been helped in the management of vegetationMinimize hazardous fuels and recycle nutrients back into the soil.
The report found that when the Forest Service followed its approved scheduled fire plan, the fires were put out in much drier conditions than recognized. According to the report, frequent droughts, limited overwinter rainfall, below-average snowpack and fuel accumulation all contributed to increased fire escape risks.
The review also revealed that “many details about situational awareness of weather in the fire environment were overlooked or misrepresented,” and that some automated weather stations nearby were not available.
“Climate change is creating conditions on the ground that we have never encountered before. We know that these conditions are leading to more frequent and intense wildfires,” Moore said. “Fire is outpacing our models and, as the final report notes, we need to better understand how megasuits and climate change are affecting our actions on the ground.”
On May 20, Moore announced a 90-day pause of scheduled fire operations on national forest lands, giving the agency time to evaluate the scheduled fire program. The Forest Service said it sets about 4,500 scheduled fires every year and that 99.84% of projects go as planned.
“Determined fires should remain a tool in our toolbox to combat them,” Moore said. “Unfortunately, the effects of climate change are narrowing the windows where this device can be used safely.”