Luján Reviews Wildfire Recovery with Cerro Pelado Fire Management Team and Los Alamos National Lab Emergency Management Team

Luján Visits Los Alamos, Mora, and Las Vegas Communities Impacted by Wildfires

Los Alamos, N.M. – Today, U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) met with the Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team 3 at the Cerro Pelado Fire and the Los Alamos National Lab (LANL) Emergency Management Team to discuss fire suppression tactics and burned area recovery efforts for New Mexicans. The Senator met with these experts as part of his ongoing support for their work to curtail the fire’s progress, safely deploy the resources they need, and develop proactive strategies to deter future disasters.

“We all owe a great debt to the innovative incident management leadership teams responding to these fires on the ground,” said Luján. “It was a honor to review their efforts and to discuss how the federal government can continue to provide support in helping New Mexicans recover and rebuild. It’s crucial that the federal government keeps an open line of communication with state, local, and Tribal governments to ensure they have the necessary tools to respond to these disasters. With fire season well underway and extreme drought touching every corner of the state, I am determined to continue supporting recovery efforts and maximize our ability to prevent such destructive fires through technological advances and preparation at every level of government.”

In addition to visiting Mora last week, Senator Luján toured the Gallinas Watershed in Las Vegas with state legislators and local leaders to survey the damage and discuss the local and federal assistance still needed. The visit with the Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team 3 at the Cerro Pelado Fire and the LANL Emergency Management Team marks his third such in-person meeting to discuss ongoing fire mitigation and recovery efforts during this historic wildfire season.

Since the onset of these historic fires, Senator Luján’s state staff has provided ongoing casework services to support New Mexicans experiencing displacement, loss of property, and health issues. In Washington, the Senator has introduced or cosponsored four pieces of legislation, including his Hermit’s Peak Fire Assistance Act, to ensure a swift recovery and the innovation of proactive technologies, in addition to helping secure a Major Disaster Declaration from President Biden in May.