Be Prepared: Early Fire Season Prompts Warning Across Southern New Mexico

An early start to fire season across New Mexico is raising concern among state and federal officials, as record heat, low snowpack and dry conditions combine to elevate wildfire risk across southern New Mexico and our broader community.

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham issued a direct warning to residents this week, urging preparation as conditions intensify.

“Fire season has arrived early — and New Mexicans need to be ready now,” the governor said. “After the warmest winter on record and snowpack at a fraction of normal levels, we’re already seeing wildfires across the state weeks ahead of schedule. This is serious, and I need you to take it seriously too.”

Conditions Aligning for Fire Risk

National fire outlooks issued April 1 show wildfire activity increasing across the country, with more than 1.6 million acres already burned this year—well above the 10-year average .

For the Southwest, including New Mexico, the outlook is particularly concerning:

• All of New Mexico is now in moderate drought or worse
• Above-normal fire potential is expected through at least May
• Dry fuels and limited spring “green-up” are increasing fire danger

March conditions set the stage, with well-below-normal precipitation and record warmth drying out vegetation earlier than usual. In some areas, fires have already occurred in the Rio Grande Valley—an uncommon development this early in the season .

Wind events and low humidity continue to act as accelerants, increasing the likelihood that small fires could spread quickly.

What Residents Should Do Now

State officials are emphasizing preparation before conditions worsen.

Gov. Lujan Grisham outlined several steps residents should take immediately:

• Know your evacuation route before smoke is in the air
• Build a “go-bag” with documents, medications, water and essentials
• Sign up for emergency alerts in your county
• Create defensible space by clearing brush at least 30 feet from structures
• Never leave fires unattended, including campfires or debris burns
• Establish a family communication plan

“The fuels are dry. The winds are picking up. Please don’t wait,” the governor said.

Local Resources for Preparedness

The New Mexico Department of Agriculture is directing residents to preparation resources from state and local partners:

• NMSU College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences: https://aces-defensiblezone.nmsu.edu/resources/resources.html
• New Mexico Forestry Division: https://www.emnrd.nm.gov/sfd/fire-prevention-programs/
• New Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management: https://www.nmdhsem.org/preparedness-bureau/

Officials emphasize that wildfire season in New Mexico is now effectively year-round, with spring conditions increasingly resembling those typically seen later in the summer.

Looking Ahead

While the arrival of the summer monsoon may eventually bring relief, current forecasts indicate elevated fire risk will persist across much of the Southwest in the coming months.

For communities in southern New Mexico, the message is clear: conditions are already in place, and preparation cannot wait.