The California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) announced the deployment of firefighting resources to New Mexico in response to ongoing statewide wildfires.
One Type III Cal OES strike team departed on April 30 and arrived in Santa Fe, New Mexico on May 1. The strike team consists of five engines – one each from the departments of Ontario, Victorville, Chino Valley, Apple Valley and Rancho Cucamonga – and a Cal OES Assistant Chief.
On May 5, Cal OES deployed an additional strike team from the San Diego Operational Area including an engine each from El Cajon, San Miguel and Chula Vista and two engines from the city of San Diego, as well as a hand crew from Santa Barbara. In addition, a Cal OES Recovery Team consisting of experts in Watershed and Debris Flow, Debris Operations, Public Assistance, Individual Assistance, and Interagency Recovery Coordination will be deploying from Sacramento on May 8.
Strong winds and dry conditions are contributing to massive wildfires burning throughout New Mexico. As of May 6, multiple wildfires have burned more than 200,000 acres combined.
The largest of those fires, the Hermits Peak and Calf Canyon, have burned more than 168,000 acres and is 20 percent contained. The Cerro-Pelado Fire has burned more than 32,000 acres and is 13 percent contained, while the Bear Trap Fire climbed above 3,200 acres and has zero containment. .
Cal OES continues to monitor operations in New Mexico and requests for additional EMAC assistance. EMAC, which includes the participation of all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, is a nationally recognized mutual-aid system that provides the foundation for states to request and send resources across their borders when impacted by a disaster.
For more information on the Emergency Management Assistance Compact, follow this link.