Nearly 200 brush fires have burned about 3,000 acres in Eddy County this year, and predictions of warmer fall and winter seasons may worsen wildfires, according to weather and fire officials.
Eddy County Fire Services Director Joshua Mack said two fires burned nearly 100 acres near the former Lake McMillan north of Carlsbad. The first fire was reported in July and the second fire was reported Oct. 16.
“That one that we just had was 30 acres and the one back in July was 67 acres,” Mack said.
He said another fire reported earlier this year near the Eddy and Lea County line burned over 2,800 acres.
Southeast New Mexico is experiencing a La Nina weather pattern this fall, said Greg Murdoch, fire weather meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Midland, Texas.
“La Nina results in warm, dry and windy weather and an associated risk of fires,” Murdoch said.
“Over the next 60 days the Climate Prediction Center has Southeast New Mexico in high probability of above normal temperatures and below normal precipitation. Typically, the fire season becomes more active from January into the spring, across southeast New Mexico and west Texas if La Nina carries over into early spring.”
Dry weather concerns have moved beyond Eddy County, according to the New Mexico Forestry Division.
“New Mexico is in a deep drought and the predicted La Nina means we may not get much snowpack and conditions could deteriorate further. We urge the public to be safe with fire and comply with fire restrictions as they are put in place,” Laura McCarthy, state forester.
“Meanwhile, we need to keep restoring forests and watersheds for resilience to drought and wildfire. We know that thinning overgrown brush and trees that act as fuel for future fires is effective, and we know it works best when followed by a prescribed burn. We need to do everything we can to work together to reduce fuels and wildfire risk.”
Capitan District Forester Nick Smokovich said State Forestry offers aid to Eddy County and any other county in New Mexico that faces fire threats.
“We work closely with fire departments before a fire starts to provide requested training and Volunteer Fire Assistance Grants to purchase wildland gear. When a fire starts, we coordinate with the local initial attack resources and our federal partners to order up the needed support, which could include bulldozers, graders, and water tenders from the New Mexico Department of Transportation (DOT) or aircraft. Post-fire, we assist fire departments financially with reimbursements, “he said.
Wendy Mason, State Forestry, wildfire prevention and communications coordinator said it’s important for residents to take the initiative to protect themselves and their property by creating a minimum 30-foot defensible space around their homes.
“This can be as simple as cutting tall grass or moving flammable items away from the outside walls of your home,” she said.
Mack encouraged Eddy County residents not to burn on windy days and not to throw cigarettes out of a moving vehicle.
“Having a trailer, make sure your chains are off the ground. That’s a problem. The chains start a lot of roadside fires,” he said.
Mack said if Eddy County residents plan an outdoor burn, they should call Regional Emergency Dispatch Authority at 575-616-7155.
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