Wildfire Victims Commemorate 2nd Anniversary of Fire with Documentary Screening and Panel Discussion ft. NM Lt. Governor Howie Morales, former NM Attorney General Hector Balderas, and FEMA Assistant Administrator Colt Hagmaier

The Coalition for Fire Fund Fairness (CFFF) – a grassroots coalition of victims of the 2022 Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon wildfire – today issued the following statement in response to the announcement of the hiring of Jay Mitchell to head the FEMA Claims Office.

About 40 people braved a snowy April morning to attend a Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon Fire roundtable event Saturday at Mount Calvary Assembly of God Church in Mora.

Non-economic damages, what a euphemism.

In the two years since United States Forest Service agents started the largest wildfire in New Mexico history, the conversation around the event has shifted from the fire itself to the re-traumatizing of its victims who, as one FEMA official acknowledged on Monday, may never be made whole again.

Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon wildfire victims commemorated second anniversary of fire with documentary screening and discussion about path forward for recovery process

Victims were joined by NM Lt. Governor Howie Morales, former NM Attorney General Hector Balderas, and FEMA Assistant Administrator Colt Hagmaier

Disaster recovery official apologizes for fire and aftermath, admits it was a mistake to copy claims rules from Cerro Grande fire

FEMA has disregarded both the intent of Congress and established precedent in New Mexico law. Of particular concern is the agency's refusal to recognize certain nuisance claims as eligible for compensation.

People filing claims related to the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire can now appeal if they disagree with the final compensation amount.

Victims’ group releases summary of FEMA’s ongoing failures to process and pay wildfire claims in accordance with state and federal law.

With almost $4 billion in the bank and thousands of claims to be processed, FEMA has the opportunity to reset the process – a restart in the spirit of the Easter season – which, so far, has been too bureaucratic and delivered too little money

New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez issues opinion finding that, per New Mexico law, “damages are available to compensate nuisance and trespass plaintiffs for annoyance, discomfort, and inconvenience.”

Recovery from the state’s most destructive wildfire is complicated by high tensions between residents and the party responsible — the United States Forest Service.

Those who hired lawyers to help them get compensation for losses to the biggest wildfire in state history won’t have to worry about additional taxes on legal services if Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signs the tax package sent to her by lawmakers last month.

The largest wildfire in New Mexico state history, accidentally ignited by the U.S. government, has transformed survivors into experts on forest management, disaster aid, and resilience.

When the federal government accidentally triggered New Mexico’s largest wildfire, hundreds of people lost their homes and livelihoods. They have become reluctant students of forest management, disaster aid and resiliency.

A Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Claims Office town hall meeting at Mora High School’s lecture hall on Feb. 13 kicked off with a protest, and many in the crowd that packed the venue continued to vent their anger and frustration as the meeting unfolded.

Mora-area residents affected by the historic Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon Fire expressed frustration this week to federal and state officials about how their claims have been handled and demanded agencies pick up the pace and deliver overdue compensation.

In less than three months, it will be two years since the U.S. Forest Service started the largest wildfire in New Mexico history.

622 days. A painful reminder of the trauma inflicted by the Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon Fire.