McKinley County urges residents to prepare for wildfire evacuations

McKinley County households near Gallup and Zuni are being told to prepare for wildfire evacuations before smoke is anywhere close, as fire danger is already active on federal land in western New Mexico. The warning comes as Stage 1 fire restrictions remain in effect on the Mt. Taylor Ranger District of the Cibola National Forest and National Grasslands, which spans Cibola, McKinley and Sandoval counties.

County officials say the responsibility starts at home, not at the fire line. The McKinley County Office of Emergency Management says it is responsible for planning for and responding to natural or manmade disasters and provides resources for Four Corners emergencies, "from fire to mud slides." The county also uses CodeRED, its rapid emergency notification system, to push alerts to residents.

State and university guidance is blunt about how little time families may have once evacuation orders come. New Mexico State University’s wildfire evacuation checklist says there is often little time to decide what to take and what to leave, and in some worst-case scenarios there is no time at all. Its takeaway is to evacuate early. The checklist also specifically includes pets, photos and other "priceless" items in evacuation planning, underscoring that a go-bag is only part of the job. Residents also need to know where they would go, who they would contact and how they would move if roads are blocked or traffic is heavy.

The New Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management says residents should keep bags and kits in their vehicles, locate and load pets, wear clothing that protects against heat and flying embers, and go when danger is imminent. That advice matters in McKinley County, where rural roads, long distances and transportation limits can turn a fast-moving fire into a life-threatening evacuation problem for families, elders and anyone who cannot leave quickly on their own.

Officials have also been pressing a wider point: wildfire is not a once-a-year issue anymore. The state says May is National Wildfire Awareness Month, but wildfire season is now a year-round reality in many parts of New Mexico. The New Mexico Forestry Division says wildfires destroy thousands of acres and threaten hundreds of homes across the state each year. Its Ready, Set, Go! program tells residents to be ready, be set and go early, while its fire-prevention materials say the Home Ignition Zone stretches from the structure and immediate surroundings out to 200 feet.

The USDA Forest Service’s Wildfire Risk to Communities tool adds another way for residents to gauge local exposure, including wildfire likelihood, vulnerable populations and types of risk. For McKinley County, the message is simple: check the alert system, pack the car, plan the route and leave early enough to do it safely.