From Ashes to Action:
DFA’s Role in Supporting New Mexico’s Fire Recovery Efforts
Camille Gonzales, ASD Finance Bureau Chief, stood on the Montoya family property in San Miguel County, listening to them describe a harrowing escape from the flames of the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon fire.
“They received notice to evacuate and imminently rushed to get out,” says Camille Gonzales. “Moments after the notice, a huge gust of hot wind blew through the trees with dust and debris. They lost everything.”
In June 2024, Camille and DFA Cabinet Secretary Wayne Propst represented DFA in a visit to the Mora and San Miguel communities, speaking with fire survivors and listening to their stories of frustration, pain, and also, heroics. The Montoya’s story is one of many from this community, where families grapple with the fire’s emotional and financial toll.
“Speaking with her helped humanize the work I do. It’s not just about paper, policies, and procedures but also about the people on the other end of that work. The people of Mora and San Miguel welcomed us with grace.”
Getting Funding to the Communities
As the state’s fiscal agency, DFA plays a role in virtually every disaster or crisis, usually allocating funding to the proper state agency or local government. The Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon fire recovery called for DFA to work in a relatively new function, providing zero-interest loans to political subdivisions to help bridge the gap between funding projects and FEMA Public Assistance reimbursement.
During the 2023 Legislative Session, Governor Lujan Grisham led a bipartisan effort to secure $100 million for the Hermit’s Peak-Calf Canyon fire recovery bill (SB6). In partnership with the Department of Homeland Security Emergency Management (DHSEM), the state awarded $99.6 million to political subdivisions for projects to replace or repair public infrastructure damaged by the fire, flooding, or debris flows.
“Learning and navigating FEMA’s Public Assistance process was a new role for us, but DHSEM’s partnership was invaluable” says Acting Local Government Division Director Jeannette Gallegos. “It was a great example of agencies working together to do what’s right and needed.”
Success isn’t solely measured by “getting money out the door,” but for the local public bodies, it’s a vital lifeline for the rebuilding and recovery endeavors.
“The Hermit’s Peak Calf Canyon fires were difficult to navigate for the county, but the resulting flooding has been devastating, and without this funding, we wouldn’t have had the cash flow to carry us through to corrective action,” says San Miguel County Manager Joy Ansley.
Watershed Protection
As Camille and Secretary Propst witnessed firsthand, the communities have a difficult and long road to recovery. One of the next obstacles is finding the appropriate vendors to help in the recovery efforts.
Recently, the state announced that the Watershed Protection solicitation is now open for bidding. This solicitation will cover services throughout New Mexico and includes construction services related to the DFA Sponsored Natural Resources Conservation Restoration (NRCS) Emergency Watershed Protection Program (EWPP) for the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fires.
“It’s been two years since the fire happened, but the work isn’t going away,” says Camille. “There’s so much we need to do. The solicitation allows us to fund watershed protection projects statewide using multiple funding sources like tapping federal funds.”
The New Recovery Effort
Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham signed HB1 from the 2024 Special Session, providing $100 million to support recovery efforts following the South Fork and Salt fires, $70 million of which will come to DFA’s Local Government Division for zero-interest reimbursable loans. The same DFA team will help the communities in southern New Mexico.