Jeff Bingaman United States Senator from New Mexico

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman today announced that New Mexico is now eligible for federal assistance to help combat the Buckwood Fire burning in Otero County. 

The New Mexico Department of Homeland Security submitted a request for a Fire Management Assistance Declaration on Wednesday, May 6^th.  FEMA approved the state’s request for assistance early Thursday morning.  At the time of the request, the fire had burned in excess of 100 acres of private and State land, including five homes and was threatening 300 homes in the Community of Timberon.  The fire is also threatening buildings, infrastructure, and power lines in the area.  Evacuations were issued for more than 65 people. 

“I am pleased the federal government was quick to respond to the state’s request for fire management assistance.  With these additional resources I am hopeful the blaze will be brought under control,” Bingaman said.

Under the terms of the grant, the federal government picks up 75 percent of the share of firefighting costs associated with the following:

• Equipment and supplies;
• Emergency work and operations centers;
• Personal comfort and safety items for firefighter health and safety;
• Mobilization and demobilization costs;
• Temporary repair of damage cause by firefighting activities;
• Mitigation, management, and control of declared fires burning on co-mingled federal land, when such costs are not reimbursable by another federal agency.