In 2022, the Hermits Peak Calf Canyon fire burned over 300,000 acres and destroyed numerous ranches, homes, and buildings due to an inadequately extinguished fire.
Terrance Gallegos of the Santa Fe National Forest Service says they are using every piece of technology and protocol to ensure the same incident doesn’t happen again.
“We’re utilizing every piece of technology and protocol here on the forest that we can to make sure that something like that doesn’t happen again,” said Terrance Gallegos with the Santa Fe National Forest Service.
Gallegos reported that infrared cameras on a plane identified residual heat sources from prescribed burns following the 2022 forest fire, detecting sources as small as a dinner plate from the air.
“It’s a really neat technology in terms of, yep, there’s the heat right there. Here’s the lat and long. And we can get folks out there and take care of it right away,” said Gallegos.
“When they’re flying over it, they can concentrate the infrared camera from the aerial platform exactly on that perimeter and adjacent to that perimeter.” he added.
Terrance Gallegos of Santa Fe National Forest Service says they are utilizing every piece of technology and protocol so they won’t cause the same incident again.
“With prescribed fire, we try to mimic that natural process where fire comes through, kind of burns the stuff lying on the ground, some heavier dead and down fuels,” said Gallegos.
After their latest flyover, forest official in Santa Fe say all their prescribed burns from the fall and winter are now completely extinguished.
Forest officials plan no prescribed burns for this spring. Forest officials say they are focusing instead on preparing for what they anticipate will be a busy wildfire season.