Wildfire Aftermath Devastates New Mexico Villages: Flooded Homes, Poisoned Wells Plague Residents

In the aftermath of the 2022 Hermit's Peak-Calf Canyon Fire, the residents of Mora County, New Mexico are facing a relentless battle against the devastating effects of post-wildfire flooding. The drought-fueled blaze, which was started by two botched U.S. Forest Service prescribed fires, has left the land scarred and unable to absorb water, leading to a series of deadly flash floods.

These muddy torrents have ravaged the region, knocking down fences, flooding homes and businesses, and even claiming the life of a motorist in 2022. In fact, post-wildfire flooding has killed seven people in New Mexico over the past five years, surpassing the five lives lost to the fires themselves. The flooding has also contaminated local wells with toxic heavy metals from fire retardants, forcing dozens of families to abandon their homes due to mold infestation.

Despite the ongoing crisis, residents of Mora County say it has become increasingly difficult to get help from federal agencies like FEMA since the Trump administration began dismantling the agency. Local officials are working to secure funding for watershed restoration and road repairs, but they say the problem cannot be solved without cooperation from the U.S. Forest Service and private landowners whose properties the floodwaters flow through.

As the area of severely burned land liable to flash flooding continues to grow each year, the people of Mora County are facing a daunting future. They are determined to find a "true solution" to the crisis, but the path forward remains uncertain in the face of the relentless, climate-fueled aftermath of the Hermit's Peak-Calf Canyon Fire.