KCEC Wildfire Mitigation Update: June 04, 2025

 

Taos, NM - Even with recent precipitation, wildfire mitigation and community awareness remain critical. Rainfall can offer temporary relief by moistening vegetation, but it often leads to rapid regrowth of grasses and shrubs, which dry out quickly and become fuel during hot, dry conditions. Kit Carson Electric Cooperative (KCEC) takes proactive measures, such as clearing hazard trees, managing vegetation, and maintaining infrastructure, to reduce risk.

 

"We firmly believe that the most pressing threat we face, both as a close-knit community and as a cooperative entity, is the challenge of fire mitigation. This issue looms large, not only endangering our homes and livelihoods but also jeopardizing the very essence of our shared environment. The potential for devastating wildfires compels us to take proactive measures, ensuring the safety and resilience of our community against this formidable natural hazard." says KCEC CEO, Luis A. Reyes Jr. The ongoing drought and lack of precipitation pose a serious threat to the state of New Mexico. KCEC has taken a proactive approach to wildfire mitigation through vegetation management, system hardening, and the integration of renewable energy. KCEC continues to implement strategic tree trimming and brush clearance near power lines and rights-of-way to reduce ignition risks, invest in infrastructure upgrades to improve system resilience, and adopt advanced monitoring systems to promptly identify and respond to potential fire threats. 

Crews will continue performing maintenance on all circuits (main line and taps). Crews will continue to tighten all hardware, which includes hotline clamps, transformer connections, cross-arm braces, and secondary connections to the weather head on service drops. The circuits that will continue in June are:

•       Upper Red River 

•       Ranchitos Circuit (40% complete) 

•       Questa (Tree Trimming Service Orders) 

•       Ute Park (30% complete) 

•       Lower Llano San Juan and Santa Barbara (80% complete) 

•       Los Pinos (80% complete)

•       Taos (Service Orders) 

Reclosers in the mountain areas have been placed on non-reclose due to dry conditions to mitigate any potential fires from trees or other debris that may come into contact with the electrical lines. Consumers may experience more outages due to the reclosers being non-reclose. The outages will be more extended since crews will patrol the line prior to closing the reclosers. The following areas have been placed on non-reclose:

 

•       Rockwall to Mora County Line

•       Chamisal to El Valle and Ojo Sarco

•       Idlewild

•       Lake View Pines

•       Elizabeth Town

•       Eagle Nest into Ute Park

•       Green Mountain

•       Upper Red River

•       Hidden Lake

•       Black Lake Resorts

•       Vallecitos, Canon Plaza

•       La Peta, Servilleta, Las Tablas

•       Taos Canyon and Valle Escondido

Area(s) completed fully/partially:

•       Tree trimming crew working on various service orders in the Taos area

•       Patrol 69 kV from Questa to NA Substation is complete - there are five poles with down cross­ arm braces. Looking at scheduling an outage on this section tentatively for June 20, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. in Valle Escondido (100% complete). Need to change out one three-phase pole.

KCEC, Taos County, and the University of New Mexico (UNM) - Taos continue to host a series of panel discussions on wildfire prevention in the region. The Enchanted Circle Wildfire Preparedness Series is designed to equip community members with essential resources and information to enhance their preparedness for potential wildfires. We encourage all members to engage and participate in order to gain a deeper understanding of the efforts of local and state officials in wildfire mitigation.

Session three of the Enchanted Circle Wildfire Preparedness Series featured insightful discussions about the aftermath of a wildfire disaster in Mora, NM. Panelists shared their experiences on the impacts of the fire and the lessons learned from managing such a significant event. A key takeaway from the discussion was the vital importance of collaboration and communication during a crisis. To view all the videos from the Enchanted Circle Wildfire Preparedness Series, please visit kitcarson.com.

Please join us for our next series of the Enchanted Circle Wildfire Preparedness Series: 

Session 4: Real Estate & Insurance Implications 

Date: June 12, 2025  

Time: 5:30 PM  

Location: UNM - Taos Bataan Hall  

121 Civic Plaza Dr, Taos, NM 

 

Wildfires significantly threaten the northern New Mexico communities within the Enchanted Circle. These fires do not respect jurisdictional boundaries and can have a detrimental impact on residents, businesses, governmental entities, municipalities, tribal organizations, hospitals, and other key institutions. The more prepared our communities are, the more effectively we can mitigate and respond to the devastation that a wildfire may bring if it occurs in our vicinity. 

 

Information from Taos County and the Town of Taos

"We have received numerous calls about small brush fires near highways and roads. Many of these incidents are linked to vehicles towing trailers with chains and idling for long periods. The chains can produce sparks, and overheated engines can ignite fires if they come into contact with arid brush. We advise everyone to exercise caution when pulling over to the side of roads or highways", says Eddie Joe Abeyta, Fire Chief for Taos Fire Rescue.

"Taos County is prepared for a wildfire. We take significant steps behind the scenes to ensure readiness for a wildfire or natural disaster. Attached are helpful resources to prepare residents," says Bobby Lucero, Taos County Emergency Management Director.

Members have access to proactive forest fire prevention resources and information. Taos County recommends having "go bags" ready in case of an emergency. A list of resources is available to assist residents of our communities.

KCEC Service Territory Essential Community Resources

 

ENCHANTED CIRCLE WILDFIRE PREPAREDNESS SERIES - The Enchanted Circle Wildfire Preparedness Series is designed to equip community members with essential resources and information to enhance preparedness for potential wildfires.

Taos County Wildfire Plaza Website - Taos County Wildfire Plaza is a place for people to share news, information and resources related to forest and watershed restoration and wildfire risk reduction.

Be Prepared for Wildfires – Ready.GOV - Wildfires are unplanned fires that burn in natural areas like forests, grasslands or prairies. These dangerous fires spread quickly and can devastate not only wildlife and natural areas but also communities.

Taos County Emergency Checklist Information- The following checklists are helpful guides for stocking up on essential items and preparing for emergencies.

HOW TO PREPARE YOUR HOME FOR WILDFIRES

Wildfire risk reduction steps that can make your home safer during a wildfire

 

 

Fire Prevention Programs - Your Personal Wildland Fire Action Guide

 

Ready, Set Go New Mexico

This page has information about embers, insurance, Ready Set Go, and other aspects of fire prevention and education.

 Living With Fire page

 Ready Set Go page

 

These resources can help members prepare for wildfire events and provide steps homeowners can take to protect their properties. KCEC encourages members to review this information and take the necessary precautions for their families and homes. This guidance will also be beneficial when dealing with homeowners' insurance applications or renewals.KCEC encourages members to contact family and friends in rural areas, as many individuals in our communities require medical assistance.

 

KCEC Green Hydrogen Safety Assessment Project 

KCEC Green Hydrogen Project 

KCEC Microgrid Project 

KCEC owns and operates 20 solar arrays across its service area to ensure system reliability. This June, KCEC will begin constructing its second-largest solar array in Amalia, NM, adding 8.75 MW of solar generation and battery storage. Once completed, KCEC's total solar generation will be approximately 52 MW and 25 MW of battery storage. 

KCEC has three battery storage microgrid projects scheduled to begin construction this year, located in Penasco, El Rito West and Taos Ski Valley. These projects will help support KCEC's electrical system during extreme weather events and emergencies.

On April 29, 2025, KCEC announced the launch of the KCEC Hydrogen Safety Assessment project in partnership with ENTRUST Solutions Group. This initiative aims to demonstrate the safety and various applications of hydrogen as a reliable source of electricity, with a focus on Questa, NM, Penasco, NM, and the Town of Taos. KCEC is committed to ensuring that all necessary steps are taken to construct these hydrogen facilities, emphasizing safety and quality.

Once completed, these clean hydrogen, solar, and battery facilities will significantly enhance the sustainability and resilience of KCEC's entire electrical system, providing affordable, reliable, and safe energy generation. For more information on these projects, please visit kitcarson.com.

KCEC would like to thank Taos County, the Town of Taos, the Forest Service, NM State Forestry, the Taos County Chamber of Commerce, Taos Ski Valley, Taos Community Foundation and UNM-Taos for their input and collaboration.

For further information, please contact CEO Luis Reyes at lreyes@kitcarson.com or COO Richard Martinez at rmartinez@kitcarson.com. Visit us at kitcarson.com for more details.