While fire danger is Angel Fire’s natural disaster, there have been significant efforts made to make sure Angel Fire is protected. A large fuel line break was cut along the entire western ridgeline, as well as several containment lines and other wildfire mitigations to give wildland firefighters the advantage over blazes.
Like Smokey Bear says, only you can prevent forest fires! Smokey’s website provides many great resources regarding proper care of camp fires in the national forests. Creating defensible space around your home is another important way a homeowner can mitigate the threat from wildfires.
But since wildfires can and will happen, it’s a great idea to have a plan in place should you need to make the difficult decision to evacuate from a threat. During the Calf Canyon/Hermits Peak wildfire, Angel Fire and the affected communities employed the Ready, Set, Go plan, the statuses which can be found on the Fire Department page of the Village of Angel Fire website. Their page also includes helpful resources such as the current fire restrictions for Angel Fire and village ordinances regarding things like fire inspections, slash disposal and other programs offered by the fire department.
One of the most admirable things to come from the wildfire last year was the way the community immediately gathered together to help their neighbors. People opened their homes, their land, and their hearts to help those fleeing from their homes. Chisum Realty Group became an evacuation station where evacuees from the Calf Canyon and Hermits Peak Fire could obtain supplies and food donated by our community members, and also a source of information regarding the efforts to contain the blaze. Being a part of a community that will go to great lengths to help those in need is a source of pride and comfort for all of us living in the Moreno Valley.