Mora County, others sue federal government for Hermits PeakCalf Canyon fire damages
Nov 15, 2024
NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – More than two years after the U.S. government started New Mexico's largest wildfire and Mora County is taking the feds to court. It comes aver the county said the total loss and from the Hermits Peak-Calf Canyon (HPCC) fire is in the billions.
Burning more than 340,000 acres and destroying homes and generational land in its path, the HPCC fire in 2022 is New Mexico's largest wildfire.
Now, the County of Mora, local electric utility, and Las Vegas school district are taking the feds to court for starting the fire.
In a new lawsuit against the United States of America, Mora County said the U.S. Forest Service was negligent starting a prescribed burn against guidelines and in known fire conditions.
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According to the lawsuit, Mora County said its losses and damages totals over one billion dollars. The lawsuit said that includes more than half a billion dollars for road repairs and modifications to handle burn scar flooding. It also includes the cost of debris removal and clean up as well as vegetation management.
The total also includes nearly $275 million for the emergency staffing expenses and $129 million for attorney fees. The federal government is still working on compensating victims of the fire.the deadline to file a 'notice of loss' was recently extended to December 20.