By Andrew Black, Jesse Deubel and Max Trujillo | Jun 9, 2022 Updated Jul 15, 2023
When President Joe Biden visits New Mexico this week, he will witness firsthand unfathomable devastation and loss. The Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon Fire and the Black Fire have burned more than 600,000 acres and forced thousands to flee their homes. These statistics do not even begin to capture the loss and anguish this megafire has wrought on our local communities and New Mexico’s wildlife.
The president has pledged to take some steps to address the cause and effects of this fire, notably halting prescribed burns for 90 days and allocating disaster recovery funds, but these solutions miss the forest for the trees.