# 2022 New Mexico wildfires

The 2022 New Mexico wildfire season were a series of wildfires which burnt throughout the U.S. state of New Mexico. As of December 13, 2022, 904,422 acres (366,007 ha) had burned across the state. The burned acreage figure for 2022 is well above the 1995-2015 average of approximately 270,000 acres burned annually. with the fire season in the state expected to continue until the advent of the regular North American Monsoon weather pattern throughout the Southwestern United States in the summer.
A number of factors contributed to the severe wildfire season. The majority of the state is experiencing extreme to exceptional drought conditions as part of a broader severe drought in the North American west, fueled by climate change. A reduced 2021-2022 winter snowpack, long periods of higher-than-normal temperatures, and sustained strong winds have resulted in extreme fire conditions and a number of major incidents.
The season has seen a large number of significant wildfires. In early April 2022, the McBride Fire destroyed over 200 structures and killed two people. Since April 2022, the Calf Canyon/Hermits Peak Fire grew to become the largest fire in New Mexico history. It destroyed over 900 structures. Starting in May the Black Fire (2022), and ending in late July, burned in the Gila National Forest northeast of Silver City. The fire consumed some 325,000 acres and became the second-largest wildfire in state history. Thousands of state residents were forced to evacuate for extended periods of times, and the fires produced smoke plumes with severe effects on air quality and health throughout New Mexico.

## List of wildfires

The following is a list of fires that burned more than 1,000 acres (400 ha), produced significant structural damage or casualties, or were otherwise notable.
| Name | County | Acres | Start date | Containment date | Notes |
| MM 38 Fire | Mora | 1,705 | February 23, 2022 | February 25, 2022 | Cause under investigation |
| San Luis Fire | Hidalgo | 2,958 | March 4, 2022 | March 10, 2022 | Cause under investigation |
| Arch Fire | Roosevelt | 5,732 | March 17, 2022 | March 18, 2022 | Human caused |
| Highway 380 Fire | Lea | 17,658 | March 29, 2022 | March 30, 2022 | Caused by powerlines |
| Calf Canyon/Hermits Peak Fire | San Miguel, Mora, Taos | 341,735 | April 6, 2022 | August 22, 2022 | Hermits Peak Fire (escaped prescribed burn) started April 6. The Calf Canyon Fire (escaped pile burn) started April 19. Merged on April 22. Largest and most destructive fire in state history. |
| Collins Fire | Catron | 3,030 | April 7, 2022 | April 11, 2022 | Was located in the Reserve Ranger District of the Gila National Forest |
| Overflow Fire | Chaves | 1,900 | April 7, 2022 | April 13, 2022 | Caused by escaped prescribed burn |
| McBride Fire | Lincoln | 6,159 | April 12, 2022 | May 7, 2022 | Killed 2 people and destroyed 207 structures. Cause under investigation |
| Cooks Peak Fire | Mora, Colfax | 59,359 | April 17, 2022 | May 13, 2022 | Human caused |
| Buckthorn Fire | Eddy | 1,152 | April 20, 2022 | April 22, 2022 | Human caused |
| Cerro Pelado Fire | Sandoval | 46,605 | April 22, 2022 | June 14, 2022 | Cause under investigation |
| Mitchell Fire | Harding | 25,000 | April 22, 2022 | April 29, 2022 | Cause under investigation |
| Campbell Road Fire | Union | 2,000 | April 22, 2022 | April 30, 2022 | Cause under investigation |
| 380 Friday Fire | Lea | 6,500 | April 22, 2022 | April 22, 2022 | Cause under investigation |
| Skiles 429 Fire | Union | 1,312 | April 29, 2022 | May 3, 2022 | Cause under investigation |
| Bear Trap Fire | Socorro | 38,225 | May 1, 2022 | June 9, 2022 | Cause under investigation |
| Truck Tire Fire | Roosevelt | 1,500 | May 2, 2022 | May 3, 2022 | Human caused |
| 380 May Fire | Lea | 1,833 | May 4, 2022 | May 5, 2022 | Human caused |
| Black Fire | Catron, Grant, Sierra | 325,136 | May 13, 2022 | July 27, 2022 | Cause under investigation. Now the second-largest fire in modern New Mexico history |
| Foster Fire | Hidalgo | 10,403 | May 29, 2022 | ??? | Cause under investigation |
| Midnight Fire | Rio Arriba | 4,905 | June 9, 2022 | July 1, 2022 | Lightning |