New Mexico congresswoman urges Forest Service to monitor prescribed burns with drones

2022 Jemez-area fire spurs lawsuit, allegations of cover-up

By the time criminal investigators from the U.S. Forest Service arrived in early June 2022, …

U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández is calling on the U.S. Forest Service to use infrared drones to monitor all prescribed burns in New Mexico, and trying to determine how much funding the agency would need to do so.

Leger Fernández sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service Chief Randy Moore on Oct. 18, urging the Forest Service to commit to using drones in such situations.

The Forest Service did not have answers to her questions readily available Monday afternoon but is working on a response, according to Forest Service spokesperson E. Wade Muehlhof.

In 2022, escaped prescribed burns in New Mexico resulted in the Hermits Peak and Calf Canyon Fires, which combined to become the largest and most destructive wildfire in the state’s history. The Cerro Pelado Fire was attributed to Forest Service pile burns that weren’t fully extinguished.

Infrared cameras detect heat and can be used to better determine where a fire is located, even when the flames are obscured by smoke or the site of the fire is difficult to get to.

Leger Fernández points out that the Forest Service committed to using infrared drones at every prescribed burn in New Mexico during an April 26 meeting of the House Natural Resources Committee. But, her letter says, at an Oct. 13 Santa Fe National Forest public meeting, Forest Service staff said that there are not enough infrared drones to use on every prescribed burn in the state.

“It would be absolutely unacceptable for the Forest Service to fail to use these drones in New Mexico,” Leger Fernández wrote. “That would undermine the credibility of the Forest Service. You have an obligation to rebuild the trust of New Mexican communities devastated by your agency’s past negligence. We cannot have another prescribed fire escape or another pile burn lay dormant for months.

“I appreciate the use of handheld infrared technology at prescribed burns. However, the handheld technology is insufficient. Firefighters and USFS personnel can use drones to access places that are difficult or impossible to reach on foot. New Mexicans deserve to feel safe in their homes knowing that the Forest Service will use every available technology to make sure the fire is out.”

According to Muehlhof, the Forest Service’s Southwestern Region has 22 Uncrewed Aerial Systems, or UAS, the vehicles most people call drones.

“There are eight used for both infrared and aerial ignitions, 12 used for infrared and natural resources missions and two with standard cameras,” Muehlhof said via email. “UAS’s support prescribed fire and natural resource projects across 11 forests in New Mexico and Arizona. In addition to the aircraft, a pilot licensed by the FAA is required, and the Southwestern Region has nine UAS pilots fully qualified for fire operations with eight pilots in trainee status.”

In her letter, Leger Fernández asks five questions, trying to ascertain whether the Forest Service will commit to using infrared drones at every prescribed burn in the state, how many infrared drones the Forest Service has and how much funding the department needs for a sufficient number of drones and personnel.

The Forest Service confirmed that Moore received the letter and is working on a response. Muehlhof also said via email that one of the recommendations in the agency’s National Prescribed Fire Program Review, published in September 2022, was to increase investment in new technology, including infrared for prescribed fire monitoring and unmanned aircraft systems to monitor ignitions. In the review, the estimated timeline for that process was “ongoing.”

“We are currently using these technologies as capacity and budgets permit,” Muehlhof said via email.

The review offered 52 recommendations, including investing in new technologies like infrared drones. Many of the immediate recommendations focused on improving communications within the agency, reducing pressure on Forest Service staff and increasing line officer and administrator engagement in the prescribed burn process.