New Mexico Gov. declares emergency in response to Trout Fire
NEW MEXICO (KRQE) — New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham has issued an emergency declaration on Tuesday in response to the Trout Fire near Silver City, which has burnt over 24,000 acres and led to evacuations across the area. Alongside the emergency declaration, Gov. Lujan Grisham has also secured Fire Management Assistance Grants to further assist with firefighting efforts in Grant County. Soldiers and Airmen of the New Mexico National Guard have been activated as well, with personnel from Rio Rancho, Albuquerque, Kirtland Air Force Base and Las Cruces helping with evacuations ordered last Friday.
The New Mexico Department of Homeland Security & Emergency Management is being allocated $750,000 by the New Mexico Department of Finance Administration to request assets such as additional firefighting crews, fire engines, air support, sheltering assistance, and out-of-state other personnel. This is through Executive Order 2025-235.
'New Mexicans are all too familiar with the devastation that comes from wildfires that bring danger and destruction to everything in their paths,' said Gov. Lujan Grisham. 'I appreciate our federal partners for taking this threat seriously and for doing their part in supporting the responders who are working their hardest to protect the community.'
New Mexico Lt. Governor Howie Morales said 35 New Mexico National Guardsmen and women will be on scene by the end of the day. He said there are no indications that structures are being threatened at this point, but power is being shut off to protect firefighters.
'When I drove through there yesterday, the smoke was pretty heavy. The air quality was causing a lot of respiratory issues. So there is generally just the fear that comes with fire and the uncertainty of it,' said Lt. Gov. Morales.
More information on Fire Management Assistance Grants can be found here.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
20 hours ago
- Yahoo
New to Florida and hurricanes? Here are answers to basic questions before a storm develops
Whether you're brand new to Florida, or you could use a few reminders, here's a quick-hit version of what you should know when it comes to hurricanes. ➤ Weather alerts via text: Sign up to get updates about current storms and weather events by location Technically, there is no such thing as the "Florida hurricane season," although many post that query into Google. Florida is covered under the Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June 1 through Nov. 30. The busiest time of the Atlantic hurricane season runs from mid-August through mid-October. The peak is Sept. 10. That depends on several factors, including where it develops and how fast it's moving. In a worst-case scenario, you may have only hours to react. You'll have less time to react if a hurricane forms close to the U.S., such as off the southeastern U.S. or the Gulf of America. Officials repeatedly encourage residents to prepare for a hurricane before a storm is on its way. During the early months of hurricane season, storms historically develop close to the U.S. and Florida. Later in the season, more storms develop out of tropical waves moving off the coast of Africa, giving residents in the path more time to prepare. Remember, though, the farther a storm is from Florida and the U.S., the more uncertainty there is on how strong it will be if or when it makes landfall and where or if it will make landfall. All predictions are for an above-average season. NOAA is predicting: Named storms: 13-19 Hurricanes: 6-10 Major hurricanes: 3-5 AccuWeather is predicting: Named storms: 13 to 18 Hurricanes: 7-10 Major hurricanes: 3-5 Direct U.S. impacts: 3-6 Colorado State University is predicting: 17 named storms 9 hurricanes 4 major hurricanes Named storms: 14 Hurricanes: 7 Major hurricanes: 3 Put together a disaster supplies kit with water and non-perishable food now, before a storm is approaching. Look over your home and yard for anything that could pose a danger. Determine if you live in a flood-prone area. Find out if you live in an evacuation zone. Develop an evacuation plan. Have trusted sources for storm information. Sign up for our free updates about current storms and weather events by location ➤ Want more details? Everything to know about NOAA tips from Hurricane Preparedness Week Go to FEMA's Flood Risk website, and enter your ZIP code. ➤ Know your risks from wind and water Go to the Florida Department of Emergency Management's Know Your Zone website and enter your address. Storm surge is the water pushed toward shore by winds associated with a tropical cyclone. Historically, storm surge "has caused the largest loss of life in hurricanes." Think you're safe if you don't live on the coast? "Storm surge can travel several miles inland, especially along bays, rivers, and estuaries," NOAA said. Usually, watches are issued before warnings. Watches give you more time to prepare. Warnings mean it's time to finalize and complete your preparations and get to a safe place. Hurricane watch: A hurricane watch means hurricane conditions are possible within the watch area. A watch is typically issued 48 hours before the anticipated first occurrence of tropical-storm-force winds, conditions that make outside preparations difficult or dangerous. Hurricane warning: A hurricane warning means hurricane conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area. A warning is typically issued 36 hours before the anticipated first occurrence of tropical-storm-force winds, conditions that make outside preparations difficult or dangerous. Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion. Hurricanes are categorized using the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Here's what each category means and the maximum sustained winds for each: : Winds 74-95 mph. Very dangerous winds will produce some damage. Large branches of trees will snap and shallowly rooted trees may be toppled. Extensive damage to power lines and poles likely will result in power outages that could last a few to several days. Category 2: Winds 96-110 mph. Extremely dangerous winds will cause extensive damage. Shallowly rooted trees will be snapped or uprooted. Near-total power loss is expected with outages that could last from several days to weeks. Category 3: Winds 111-129 mph. Devastating damage will occur. Well-built framed homes may incur major damage. Many trees will be snapped or uprooted, blocking numerous roads. Electricity and water will be unavailable for several days to weeks. Considered a major hurricane. Category 4: Winds 130-156 mph. Catastrophic damage will occur. Well-built framed homes can sustain severe damage with loss of most of the roof and/or some exterior walls. Most trees will be snapped or uprooted and power poles downed. Power outages will last weeks to possibly months. Considered a major hurricane. Category 5: Winds 157 mph or higher. Catastrophic damage will occur. A high percentage of framed homes will be destroyed, with total roof failure and wall collapse. Fallen trees and power poles will isolate residential areas. Power outages will last for weeks to possibly months. Most of the area will be uninhabitable for weeks or months. Considered a major hurricane. No, although it's an idea that has been proposed in the past. Don't expect any changes anytime soon, as the National Hurricane Center said it has no plans to make any changes to the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Three Category 5 hurricanes have hit Florida since 1900: Labor Day Hurricane, 1935: The hurricane hit the Florida Keys. Winds were estimated between 150 and 200 mph at landfall. Hurricane Andrew, 1992: Landfall was in South Miami-Dade County. Maximum sustained winds were 165 mph. Hurricane Michael, 2018: Landfall was near Tyndall Air Force Base in the Panhandle. Maximum sustained winds were 161 mph. "On the average, close to seven hurricanes every four years strike the United States, while about three major hurricanes cross the U.S. coast every five years," NOAA said. Forty percent of all U.S. hurricanes hit Florida Sixty percent of major hurricanes strikes have hit either Florida or Texas Several conditions need to exist for a hurricane to develop, NOAA said, including: Ocean waters should be 80 degrees at the surface and warm for a depth of 150 feet. An atmosphere which cools fast enough with increasing height so the difference between the top and bottom of the atmosphere can create thunderstorm conditions. Spin. A storm needs to be at least 300 miles from the equator for the Coriolis force for the typical spin we associate with hurricanes. Low vertical wind shear, which favor thunderstorms, which provide the energy for tropical cyclones. "There have been numerous techniques that have been considered over the years to modify hurricanes," ranging from seeding clouds with dry ice, cooling the ocean with icebergs, flying jets clockwise in the eyewall to reverse the flow, exploding the hurricane apart with hydrogen bombs, and blowing the storm away from land with giant fans. "As carefully reasoned as some of these suggestions are, they all share the same shortcoming: They fail to appreciate the size and power of tropical cyclones." NOAA said. This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Florida hurricane season: Start, end and what you need to know
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Officials declare emergency as wildfire rips through over 20,000 acres of US land: 'Danger and destruction'
New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham is taking the necessary steps to combat the latest extreme weather event in the state. As detailed by the Santa Fe New Mexican, Grisham declared an emergency in Grant County after a devastating wildfire that has "burned more than 24,000 acres north of Silver City." Known as the Trout Fire, the blaze has been burning since June 12 but is at least 41% contained and was ruled to have been caused by lightning. Grisham's declaration also authorized $750,000 in emergency response spending, which includes the deployment of the New Mexico National Guard. The Federal Emergency Management Agency also sent Grisham a Fire Management Assistance Grant, which the state can use to request "additional firefighting crews, fire engines, air support, sheltering assistance and personnel from federal or other entities," per the Santa Fe New Mexican. "New Mexicans are all too familiar with the devastation that comes from wildfires that bring danger and destruction to everything in their paths," Grisham said in a news release, per the Santa Fe New Mexican. "I appreciate our federal partners for taking this threat seriously and for doing their part in supporting the responders who are working their hardest to protect the community." As temperatures rise during the summer months, many areas are bracing for a difficult wildfire season, and a warming climate makes these disasters even more devastating. Rising global temperatures have caused wildfires to happen more frequently and persist for longer. In addition to the destruction caused by the Trout Fire, New Mexico residents are facing a potentially dangerous situation from the smoke polluting the air. This can cause respiratory issues and exacerbate health conditions such as asthma. Before Gov. Grisham's emergency declaration, New Mexico health and environment officials issued a smoke advisory for Grant and Catron counties due to the poor air quality caused by the Trout Fire and the Buck Fire, which has been burning near Aragon. The state's Department of Health and Environment Department warned that air quality as far south as Las Cruces could be affected by the ongoing blazes. "As smoke from the Trout and Buck fires affects communities in Grant and Catron counties, we urge residents to stay alert and take steps to protect their health," Cindy Hollenberg, Air Quality Bureau chief for the Environment Department, said in a release, per the Santa Fe New Mexican. Dr. Chelsea Langer, bureau chief of the state Department of Health's Environmental Health Epidemiology Bureau, advised residents in fire- and smoke-affected areas to limit outdoor activities and take other steps to protect their health. The Santa Fe New Mexican explained that low visibility indicates air quality is "unhealthy for young children, adults over age 65, pregnant women, and people with heart or lung diseases, asthma or other respiratory illness." If you're in an area susceptible to wildfires, it's important to stay informed about critical climate issues and take local action. It's crucial to stay inside during times of poor air quality, but if you have to go outside, wearing masks like N95 or P100 can help protect you from breathing in smoke particles. Air purifiers can further improve your indoor air quality by capturing harmful particles. Protecting your health and the health of your loved ones should be the No. 1 priority during wildfire events. Do you worry about air pollution in and around your home? Yes — always Yes — often Yes — sometimes No — never Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Meteor seen by thousands falls from the sky, rattles Earth in Georgia
A meteor streaked across the sky over metro Atlanta on Thursday afternoon, creating a spectacular fireball and a loud boom that startled thousands of people. NASA confirmed that the meteor was first observed 48 miles above Oxford, Georgia, traveling at a speed of 30,000 miles per hour. The meteor, an asteroidal fragment with a diameter of three feet and weighing over a ton, disintegrated 27 miles above West Forest, Georgia, releasing energy equivalent to 20 tons of TNT, NASA said. Henry County Sheriff Reginald Scandrett told Action News Jax's Atlanta station WSB-TV that he and his team felt the impact, which stopped them in their tracks. Emergency officials are investigating reports that a piece of the meteorite may have penetrated the roof of a home in Henry County. Ryan Morrison, the Henry County Emergency Management Director, visited the home to ensure the safety of its occupants. The homeowner described hearing a noise similar to a gunshot before discovering pieces of rock on the ground. The meteor's dramatic entry into the atmosphere and subsequent disintegration provided a rare and memorable event for residents across the region, with ongoing investigations into possible meteorite impacts. *WSB-TV, Atlanta contributed to this report. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
