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New Mexico is just days away from a big visit. President Joe Biden will travel to Santa Fe on Saturday to provide an update on the wildfires burning across the state. Opportunity arises as crews continue to battle the Hermits Peak Calf Canyon fire, the largest wildfire in state history. “Very minimal growth in fires over the last few days. We have just over 2,600 employees working on the fire right now,” said Mike de Fries, a public information officer for the fire. It’s been a month since the Las Vegas wildfire broke out and crews are still hard at work. As of Thursday morning, the Calf Canyon Hermits Peak fire has burned 318,599 acres with 65% containment. “Work is being carried out along the fire lines in the northern area. They also continue to make progress and are working to add containment in areas,” de Fries said. “Many of the remaining uncontained fire zones are in wilderness and very steep, rugged, difficult to access terrain.” Biden will first meet with Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and other state and local officials, responders, and with FEMA personnel at the National Guard site on Cerrillos Road. It’s an opportunity the task force team handling the Calf Canyon Hermits Peak fire is excited about. “We wish the President well as he comes to New Mexico and that he learns and listens to what the people here have to say. We know there’s been so much influence,” de Fries said. Las Vegas Mayor Louie Trujillo said he also looks forward to the president’s visit. For those living in the city, the weeks since the wildfire started have been light ground and the large ground full of ash, it looks like a horror movie. It changed our landscape forever,” Trujillo said. When it comes to Biden’s journey, Trujillo hopes that senior stewardship and discussions about how to prevent wildfires come first. “I hope he would understand that this was not our fault, that this was a fire started by the federal government,” Trujillo said. “Both fires were, and I think it would be good for the people of northern New Mexico and for Las Vegas to hear the President say they’re going to make this right for everyone.” Trujillo even noted talk of additional recovery efforts, such as federal aid. “Any action we take is going to cost millions and millions of dollars, so let’s hope that money comes in handy,” he said. Grisham’s office declined to reveal more information about Biden’s visit.
New Mexico is just days away from a big visit.
President Joe Biden will travel to Santa Fe on Saturday to provide an update on the wildfires burning across the state.
Opportunity arises as crews continue to battle the Hermits Peak Calf Canyon fire, the largest wildfire in state history.
“Very minimal growth in fires over the last few days. We have just over 2,600 employees working on the fire right now,” said Mike de Fries, a public information officer for the fire.
It’s been a month since the Las Vegas wildfire broke out, but crews are still hard at work.
As of Thursday morning, the Calf Canyon Hermits Peak fire has burned 318,599 acres with 65% containment.
“Work is in progress along the fire lines in the northern area. They also continue to make progress and are working to add containment in areas,” de Fries said. “Many of the remaining uncontrolled fire compartments are in wilderness, in very steep, rugged, difficult to access terrain.”
Biden will meet with Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, other state and local officials, first responders and FEMA staff at the National Guard site on Cerrillos Road.
The task force team handling the Hermits Peak fire in Calf Canyon welcomes this opportunity.
“We wish the President well as he comes to New Mexico and that he learns and listens to what the people here have to say. We know there’s been so much influence,” de Fries said.
Las Vegas Mayor Louie Trujillo said he also looks forward to the president’s visit.
For those living in the city, the weeks since the wildfire began have not been easier.
“When you see it first hand and those little toothpicks sticking out of the ground and see the big floor full of ash, it looks like something out of a horror movie. It changed our landscape forever,” Trujillo said.
Regarding Biden’s trip, Trujillo is hoping for higher-ups to take responsibility and discuss how wildfires can never start in the first place.
“I hope he would understand that this was not our fault, that this was a fire started by the federal government,” Trujillo said. “Both fires were, and I think it would be good for the people of upstate New Mexico and for Las Vegas if the President said they’re going to make this right for everyone.”
Trujillo even noted talks of additional recovery efforts such as federal aid.
“Any action we take is going to cost millions and millions of dollars, so let’s hope that money comes in handy,” he said.
Grisham’s office declined to reveal more information about Biden’s visit.