List of New Mexico wildfires

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Smoke from the Las Conchas fire in 2011

This is a partial and incomplete list of wildfires in the US state of New Mexico. New Mexico has dry, windy, and often hot weather conditions that often produce moderate to severe wildfires.

Background

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While "fire season" can vary every year in New Mexico based on weather conditions, most wildfires occur in from early May through June, before the monsoon season. However, there is an increasing fire risk year-round from climate change. Droughts are becoming more common partly from rising temperatures in the state that evaporate water from streams. Unpredictable monsoon levels can increase fire risks. New Mexico is prone to strong winds, and jet stream disruption from climate change can make them stronger. Intense winds contribute to drought, allow wildfires to spread, and dry out vegetation. Unique plant life and fine fuels in the state fuel wildfires, especially in the Eastern New Mexico grasslands. Rising temperatures will reduce snowpack and shorten the snowmelt season which can increase drought and wildfire severity.[1]

Overgrazing and logging in the late 1800s and over 100 years of strict fire suppression affected natural systems of New Mexico led to a growing wildfire risk and intensity. Scientists predict New Mexico's forests will gradually deteriorate, turning into shrublands as wildfires burn the forests.[1]

Statistics

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Starting in 2007, the National Interagency Fire Center began keeping more accurate records on the total fire acreage burned in each state.[2]

Year Fires Acres Hectares Ref
2007 1,603 179,024 72,448 [3]
2008 1,322 561,789 227,348 [4]
2009 1,354 520,613 210,685 [5]
2010 1,061 294,459 119,163 [6]
2011 1,950 1,541,249 623,721 [7]
2012 1,088 402,511 162,890 [8]
2013 1,109 238,425 96,487 [9]
2014 793 59,532 24,092 [10]
2015 768 67,197 27,194 [11]
2016 1,313 264,617 107,087 [12]
2017 892 233,317 94,420 [13]
2018 449 104,410 42,250 [14]
2019 859 79,887 32,329 [15]
2020 1,018 109,512 44,318 [16]
2021 672 123,792 50,097 [17]
2022 748 859,906 347,992 [18]
2023 1,019 212,378 85,946 [19]
2024 823 82,531 33,399 [20]

List of wildfires

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "New Mexico Fire Season: In-Depth Guide". wfca.com. Western Fire Chiefs Association. Retrieved June 10, 2025.
  2. ^ "Statistics". National Interagency Fire Center. Archived from the original on August 12, 2015. Retrieved August 24, 2015.
  3. ^ "National Interagency Coordination Center Wildland Fire Summary and Statistics Annual Report 2007" (PDF). National Interagency Fire Center.
  4. ^ "National Interagency Coordination Center Wildland Fire Summary and Statistics Annual Report 2008" (PDF). National Interagency Fire Center.
  5. ^ "National Interagency Coordination Center Wildland Fire Summary and Statistics Annual Report 2009" (PDF). National Interagency Fire Center.
  6. ^ "National Interagency Coordination Center Wildland Fire Summary and Statistics Annual Report 2010" (PDF). National Interagency Fire Center.
  7. ^ "National Interagency Coordination Center Wildland Fire Summary and Statistics Annual Report 2011" (PDF). National Interagency Fire Center.
  8. ^ "National Interagency Coordination Center Wildland Fire Summary and Statistics Annual Report 2012" (PDF). National Interagency Fire Center.
  9. ^ "National Interagency Coordination Center Wildland Fire Summary and Statistics Annual Report 2013" (PDF). National Interagency Fire Center.
  10. ^ "National Interagency Coordination Center Wildland Fire Summary and Statistics Annual Report 2014" (PDF). National Interagency Fire Center.
  11. ^ "National Interagency Coordination Center Wildland Fire Summary and Statistics Annual Report 2015" (PDF). National Interagency Fire Center.
  12. ^ "National Interagency Coordination Center Wildland Fire Summary and Statistics Annual Report 2016" (PDF). National Interagency Fire Center.
  13. ^ "National Interagency Coordination Center Wildland Fire Summary and Statistics Annual Report 2017" (PDF). National Interagency Fire Center.
  14. ^ "National Interagency Coordination Center Wildland Fire Summary and Statistics Annual Report 2018" (PDF). National Interagency Fire Center.
  15. ^ "National Interagency Coordination Center Wildland Fire Summary and Statistics Annual Report 2019" (PDF). National Interagency Fire Center.
  16. ^ "National Interagency Coordination Center Wildland Fire Summary and Statistics Annual Report 2020" (PDF). National Interagency Fire Center.
  17. ^ "National Interagency Coordination Center Wildland Fire Summary and Statistics Annual Report 2021" (PDF). National Interagency Fire Center.
  18. ^ "National Interagency Coordination Center Wildland Fire Summary and Statistics Annual Report 2022" (PDF). National Interagency Fire Center.
  19. ^ "National Interagency Coordination Center Wildland Fire Summary and Statistics Annual Report 2023" (PDF). National Interagency Fire Center.
  20. ^ "National Interagency Coordination Center Wildland Fire Summary and Statistics Annual Report 2024" (PDF). National Interagency Fire Center.