New Mexico senators seek more wildfire funding for forest cleanup
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NEW MEXICO
Sen.Martin Heinrich also leads letter asking for more facts on Forest Service wildfire preparedness ahead of 2026 fire season
New Mexico’s senators are asking for more funding to clean up hazardous fuels like downed trees after wildfires, a task critical to reducing the risk of future catastrophic blazes.
Heinrich, along with Sen. Ben Ray luján, recently sent a letter to the Forest Service requesting increased funding for post-fire restoration and hazardous fuel removal projects. They also seek more information on the agency’s preparedness plans for the 2026 fire season.
The senators highlighted the increasing severity of wildfires in New Mexico and the West, fueled by climate change and overgrown forests. Removing dead and downed trees – hazardous fuels – is essential to mitigating fire risk, but current funding levels are insufficient to address the scale of the problem, they argued.
“New Mexico has experienced firsthand the devastating impacts of increasingly severe wildfires,” Heinrich said in a statement. “We need to invest in proactive measures,like hazardous fuel removal,to protect our communities and ecosystems.”
The letter specifically requests details on the Forest service’s budget for post-fire restoration, including funding allocated for removing hazardous fuels, reforesting burned areas, and addressing erosion control. It also asks for a extensive overview of the agency’s wildfire preparedness strategy for 2026, including plans for prescribed burns and mechanical thinning.
Jonathan Romero of the Carson National Forest lights a prescribed burn next to the Taos Pines Ranch community between Taos and Angel Fire in this file photo. New mexico’s senators are asking for more funding to clean up hazardous fuels like downed trees after wildfires.
Eddie Moore/Journal
Martin Heinrich
Forest Service Disputes Analysis Claiming Reduced Wildfire Prevention Efforts
A recent analysis suggested the U.S. Forest Service treated fewer acres for hazardous fuels in 2024 compared to the average of the previous four years. Though, the Forest Service is pushing back against this claim, citing a prosperous year in wildfire management and notable progress in fuels reduction and post-fire restoration.
Analysis Claims Decline in Fuels Treatment
The analysis, details of which were not fully provided in the source material, reportedly stated that the Forest Service treated fewer acres for hazardous fuels in the fiscal year 2025 (October-September) than the average amount treated each of the previous four years. This claim prompted a response from the agency.
Forest Service Highlights 2024 Successes
John Winn, a USDA Forest Service spokesman, disputed the analysis, stating the agency “completed more than 3.25 million acres of hazardous fuels reduction work, over 90% of our target” in fiscal year 2025. He emphasized that a single metric doesn’t fully represent the agency’s efforts to protect communities and restore forest health.
Winn further highlighted that despite recording the highest number of wildfire starts on Forest Service lands sence 2016, the total acres burned were nearly half the 10-year average – a reduction of almost 1 million acres. This success is attributed to proactive fuels reduction and effective wildfire suppression efforts. https://www.fs.usda.gov/news/releases/forest-service-reports-successful-2024-wildfire-season
Post-Fire Restoration Efforts
Beyond prevention and suppression, the Forest service also focused on post-fire restoration. Winn reported the agency delivered a high level of reforestation,completing more than 285,000 acres of work. This restoration is crucial for long-term forest health and resilience. https://www.fs.usda.gov/working-with-us/disaster-recovery/post-fire-recovery
understanding Hazardous Fuels Reduction
hazardous fuels reduction refers to a variety of treatments aimed at reducing the risk of large, destructive wildfires. These treatments can include:
* Prescribed Burning: Intentionally setting low-intensity fires under controlled conditions to remove accumulated dead vegetation.
* Mechanical Thinning: Removing trees and brush to reduce forest density.
* Hand Crews: Manual removal of vegetation in areas inaccessible to machinery.
These efforts create more resilient forests that are less susceptible to catastrophic wildfires.
Key Takeaways
* The Forest service completed over 3.25 million acres of hazardous fuels reduction work in fiscal year 2025, achieving over 90% of its target.
* Despite a high number of wildfire starts, the total acres burned were nearly half the 10-year average, a reduction of almost 1 million acres.
* The agency completed over 285,000 acres of reforestation as part of post-fire restoration efforts.
* Evaluating wildfire management success requires considering multiple factors beyond just acres treated for fuels reduction.
The Forest Service’s response underscores the complexity of wildfire management and the importance of evaluating success based on a comprehensive set of metrics. As climate change continues to exacerbate wildfire risk, continued investment in fuels reduction, suppression, and post-fire restoration will be critical to protecting communities and maintaining healthy forests.