The U.S. Forest Service, following a recent investigation, confirmed its own prescribed burn as the trigger for a devastating wildfire in April last year, which perilously encroached upon the city of Los Alamos, New Mexico.
Cerro Pelado Fire: From Prescribed Burn to Wildfire
The wildfire, named the Cerro Pelado Fire, swept across an extensive area of over 60 square miles in the last spring. The wildfire’s approach brought it within close proximity of Los Alamos, resulting in school closures and enforced evacuation orders.
The Southwestern Regional Forester, Michiko Martin, traced the fire back to a pile of forest debris commissioned for a burn by the agency. It eventually transformed into a holdover fire and smoldered for several months.
“A Fire That Smolders Undetectably”
Martin elucidated the situation further on Monday, stating, “Our investigation has confirmed that the Cerro Pelado Fire on the Jemez Ranger District of the Santa Fe National Forest was caused by a holdover fire from the Pino West Piles Prescribed Fire, a debris pile burn.” He explained that a holdover fire is one that smolders undetectably.
