By LAURA MCCARTHY
New Mexico State Forester
May 10, at approximately 4 p.m., a wildfire started near Las Tusas – some of the only green forest left standing after the Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon Fire last year.
Buffeted by winds from the southwest and fueled by timber, brush and grass, the fire traveled quickly through a populated rural community just a dozen miles north of Las Vegas. Approximately 470 structures were threatened, including primary homes, RVs, stables and other outbuildings; lives were at stake.
As people evacuated their homes, more than 100 volunteer firefighters rushed toward the fire and joined the effort to contain the damage. Without them, things could have been much worse. One additional, well-trained volunteer can make all the difference when battling a wildfire.
New Mexico’s volunteer fire fighters are a crucial part of wildland fire suppression. They are often called during initial attack, or the fire’s first response period. They put their time, their effort, and their bodies on the line. Their knowledge of terrain and community layout can be critical in assisting state and federal agencies who are sizing up the fire and deciding how best to attack.
For more than 40 years, the New Mexico Forestry Division has provided the state’s 415 fire departments with free training needed to fight wildfire. The training meets interagency standards and includes courses on wildland fire behavior, fire-fighting tactics and safety trainings. Specialized instruction on chainsaw operation, portable pumps and water use complements higher-level classes such as engine boss training and understanding of fire weather.
This year Forestry Division trained more than 1,500 volunteer firefighters. It’s a remarkable turnout for a year that has seen firefighter numbers down across the nation.
The fires last year burned more than one million acres across the state. But they served as their own kind of recruitment tool for these brave, community-minded volunteers who simply wanted to help prevent future fires in our state. This turnout will bolster efforts to stop wildfires before they spread.
Forestry Division’s fire suppression jurisdiction covers 43 million acres of state and private land – that’s 60 percent of New Mexico’s land base. We simply cannot do it alone. We rely on the county and municipal fire departments and the volunteers who sacrifice their time and energy by assisting these departments.
Without volunteer firefighters, it’s no question that the task of wildland fire suppression would be made much more difficult. So, the next time you meet a volunteer firefighter, give them a hearty thank you. Community fire protection begins at the ground level, and these local heroes deserve our thanks and praise.
