New Mexico DHSEM Hosts “All-Hands-On-Deck” Emergency Operations Center Exercise

As New Mexico enters another dangerous wildfire season, state and local agencies gathered May 13 for a large-scale emergency response exercise designed to test how government agencies would coordinate during a major wildfire incident.

The full-scale exercise was conducted inside the state Emergency Operations Center and brought together emergency management personnel, weather officials, public safety agencies and local governments in what officials described as an “all hands on deck” training scenario.

According to organizers, the exercise focused on wildfire response coordination and identifying areas where emergency operations could be improved before a real-world disaster unfolds.

“These exercises are a critical part of ensuring that we are prepared and know exactly what we need to do when a local emergency manager asks for our support to protect New Mexicans,” organizers stated following the exercise.

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The training comes as much of New Mexico faces worsening drought conditions and elevated wildfire risk heading into summer. The exercise also coincides with ongoing wildfire activity around the state, including the Seven Cabins Fireburning in the Capitan Mountains.

Participating agencies included the New Mexico Department of Transportation, New Mexico Forestry Division, New Mexico National Guard, National Weather Service Albuquerque, New Mexico Environment Department, New Mexico Health Care Authority, Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department, the Village of Ruidoso, the Mescalero Apache Tribe and Doña Ana County Public Safety.

Officials said the goal of the exercise was not only to practice emergency coordination, but also to identify weaknesses and improve communication between agencies before major fire activity intensifies later this summer.