Residents of Mora County are on edge again, concerned about the potential for flooding as a result of the Hermit’s Peak Calf Canyon burn scar.
Days of expected rain have officials wondering how much more water the burn scar can take before it impacts homes and businesses.
“I don’t think that any of us can really sleep in peace because it’s raining day and night,” Mora County commissioner Veronica Serna told KRQE News, adding that the rivers in the area are close to capacity and filled with debris due to heavy snowmelt.
To stay abreast of the situation, Serna constantly receives pictures and videos updating her on areas prone to flooding. Crews have been filling sandbags for the public to use, while emergency personnel and first responders are on constant standby.
Serna said that due to the burn scar, it’s unlikely the area will escape some form of flooding during the summer. “You know it’s a double-edged sword,” she told KRQE news. “You get moisture and it reduces the risk of fire; however, it increases the risk of flooding.”
Serna said the state delivered about 1,000 sandbags to Mora County in preparation for the monsoon season. All sandbags have been distributed as needed.
The Hermit's Peak Fire began on April 6, 2022, after the Las Dispensas prescribed burn on the Pecos/Las Vegas Ranger District of the Santa Fe National Forest got out of control due to unexpected winds, according to KRQE News. The Calf Canyon Fire started in the Gallinas Canyon in the Santa Fe National Forest.
On April 23, 2022, officials announced that the Hermit's Peak and Calf Canyon fires had combined and eventually grew into the largest and most destructive wildfire in the history of the state of New Mexico. The fire burned nearly 350,000 acres before it was contained on August 21, 2022. An estimated 300 buildings were damaged or destroyed, including 166 homes.