After their first year of existence, two New Mexico wildland firefighting teams say they’re on track to become certified Hotshots, a designation that will increase the state’s capacity to fight wildfires, and mark its first foray creating elite wildfire teams.
The move follows state lawmakers’ 2023 approval of $1.3 million to the State Forestry Division for the Mimbres and Pecos River wildfire teams in northern and southern New Mexico in the aftermath of the devastating 2022 fire season. That season featured the two biggest wildfires in New Mexico history, the Hermits Peak-Calf Canyon Fire and the Black Fire.
Having Hotshot firefighters – who possess the highest level of certification – year-round in New Mexico would allow quicker and more effective responses to wildfires across the state, where blazes can erupt at any time, anywhere. At present, only Utah and Alaska have such teams…