Persistent drought conditions and nearly 200 wildfires on state and private land this year prompted the New Mexico Department of Agriculture (NMDA) and the New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department (ENMRD) State Forestry Division to remind people May is National Wildfire Awareness Month.
Secretary of Agriculture Jeff Witte said people should remain vigilant and take steps to mitigate fire-related disasters. “Much of the land in the state is used for agriculture, and we want to ensure that those in the industry are prepared when it comes to potential wildfire on their lands,” he said in a news release.
State Forestry Wildfire Prevention and Communications Coordinator Wendy Mason said since Jan. 1 of this year, 168 wildfires burned an estimated 2,549 acres on state and private land across New Mexico.