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The Long Burn

The Slow Recovery From New Mexico’s Largest Wildfire

The federal government accidentally set the Hermits Peak-Calf Canyon wildfire. Disaster aid has been hard to get and slow to arrive, and residents face a long journey to rebuild.

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The Long Burn

FEMA Leader Overseeing $4 Billion Fund to Pay Victims of New Mexico Wildfire Steps Down

Longtime agency official Angela Gladwell has overseen the fund to pay victims of a wildfire accidentally started by the federal government. Her departure comes amid criticism of FEMA’s handling of payments for damages.

by Patrick Lohmann, Source New Mexico,

Local Reporting Network

9 stories published since 2023

FEMA Told Victims of New Mexico’s Largest Wildfire It Can’t Pay for Emotional Harm. A Judge Will Likely Rule It Must.

by Patrick Lohmann, Source New Mexico,

I Moved to Rural New Mexico to Report on the Aftermath of a Massive Wildfire. My Neighbors Were My Best Sources.

by Patrick Lohmann, Source New Mexico,

Record-Setting Blazes Are Growing More Common. Here’s What Survivors of One Want You to Know.

by Byard Duncan, ProPublica, and Patrick Lohmann, Source New Mexico, photography by Adria Malcolm for ProPublica,

In the Scar of New Mexico’s Largest Wildfire, a Legal Battle Is Brewing: What Is Victims’ Suffering Worth?

by Patrick Lohmann, Source New Mexico, and Byard Duncan, ProPublica,

A Former Police Chief Fought to Rebuild After a New Mexico Fire. He Died Before He Could Go Home.

by Patrick Lohmann, Source New Mexico,

Life in Limbo: Victims of New Mexico’s Biggest Wildfire Wait for Checks From the Federal Government to Rebuild

by Patrick Lohmann, Source New Mexico, and Byard Duncan, ProPublica,

FEMA Has So Far Paid Out Less Than 1% of What Congress Allocated for Victims of New Mexico Wildfire

by Megan Gleason and Patrick Lohmann, Source New Mexico,

The Federal Government Accidentally Burned Down Their Houses, Then Made It Hard to Come Home

by Patrick Lohmann, Source New Mexico,

A brick wall, scorched at the top, sits between two burned cars.

Were You Affected by the Massive Wildfire in Northern New Mexico? We Want to Hear From You.

by Patrick Lohmann, Source New Mexico,

What We’re Watching

During Donald Trump’s second presidency, ProPublica will focus on the areas most in need of scrutiny. Here are some of the issues our reporters will be watching — and how to get in touch with them securely.

Learn more about our reporting team. We will continue to share our areas of interest as the news develops.

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Sharon Lerner

I cover health and the environment and the agencies that govern them, including the Environmental Protection Agency.

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Andy Kroll

I cover justice and the rule of law, including the Justice Department, U.S. attorneys and the courts.

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Melissa Sanchez

I report on immigration and labor, and I am based in Chicago.

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Jesse Coburn

I cover housing and transportation, including the companies working in those fields and the regulators overseeing them.

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