New Mexico getting $28 million for wildfire defense

NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – Around New Mexico, 11 communities are getting a share of $28 million to boost wildfire defenses. The funds come from the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

“Our congratulations go out to the local agencies and their community partners who are helping to increase wildfire prevention and mitigation practices in this state,” State Forester Laura McCarthy said in a press release. “With over twice the amount of federal funding received last year, we’re excited to start implementing the great ideas these communities have produced.”

The state received 30 applications for the funding. Of those, 11 where chosen for the program intended to help at-risk communities reduce the risk of wildfire in their communities.

The chosen grant recipients, with descriptions from the state Forestry Division, include:

Cimarron Watershed Alliance, Inc. received $10,000,000 for the Angel Fire Community Protection Project to implement high priority fuels reduction and forest restoration work on private lands in and around the community of Angel Fire, New Mexico. The project will create defensible space and fuel breaks and implement forest thinning and pile burning. The objective is to protect Angel Fire and surrounding landscape from high-intensity fires, reduce wildfire risk, restore forests to fire adapted ecosystems, make these areas more resilient, and allow all nearby communities to coexist with frequent wildfires.

West Latir Ditch Association received $8,121,663 for the West Latir Collaborative Forest Fuel Reduction and Watershed Protection Initiative to implement high priority fuels reduction work to reduce fuel loading, improve defensible space and create fuel breaks within and adjacent to the unincorporated/underserved communities El Rito and Latir in northeast Taos County, New Mexico.

Upper Chama Soil and Water Conservation District received $7,137,470 to implement upland forest Hazardous Fuel Reduction, conduct defensible space mitigation within Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) areas and riparian treatment and restoration within the Upper Chama Soil and Water Conservation District (UCSWCD) boundaries.

Village of Ruidoso Forestry Department received $1,200,000 for Ruidoso Green Fuels Management. Funds will expand and enhance a program to reduce the amount of flammable material within the Village of Ruidoso while creating fuel breaks and defensible space around structures.

South Central Mountain Resource Conservation and Development Council, Inc . received $784,080 for the Ruidoso Midtown Protection Project to implement strategic hazardous fuels reduction treatments and establish and maintain fuel breaks to improve ingress/egress routes, improve forest health, protect life and property and provide support for first responders. Awardee also received $215,400 for a Lincoln County community wildfire protection plan update.

Otero County received $243,100 to develop a community wildfire protection plan for Otero County.

Grant County Office of Emergency Management received $185,000 for community wildfire protection plan update and modernization for Grant County.

Valencia County received $159,600 to update and expand community wildfire protection plans throughout the county of Valencia, NM.

San Miguel County received $88,000 to update the San Miguel County community wildfire protection plan following the Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon Fire.

Mora County received $88,000 to update the Mora County community wildfire protection plan following the Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon Fire.

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