President Biden is due to visit New Mexico on Saturday amid a highly active fire season as anger continues to boil over the state’s largest wildfire. The president will meet with Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, who has asked the federal government to cover the full cost of recovering from the Hermits Peak and Calf Canyon fires. The merged wildfires have spread to 319,841 acres and were reduced by 67%, with 2,685 people working in windy conditions. NEW MEXICO GOVERNOR INVESTIGATES WILD FIRE DESTRUCTION Both fires – which destroyed several hundred homes in New Mexico – have been blamed on U.S. Forest Service. Efforts to extinguish the fire cost the state millions, and the governor’s office claimed the service would pay 100% of the price. Daniel Encinias stands by the rubble of his Hermits Peak Calf Canyon in Tierra Monte, New Mexico, June 9, 2022. (REUTERS / Andrew Hay) Residents of Mora County – who were visited by the governor last week – sued the forest service, hoping to get more information. The evacuations have also displaced thousands of residents, with fears of flames being replaced by concerns about mud landslides. NEWEST MEXICO GREATEST FIRE DETECTED IN FOREST SERVICE SCHEDULED BURNS The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has approved more than 900 disaster relief applications totaling nearly $ 3 million. Residents are worried that they will receive compensation for the damage they have suffered. The legislation proposed by MP Teresa Leger Fernández, DN.M., will offer full compensation for almost all lost assets and income associated with the fire. On Thursday, the Biden government amended its disaster declaration for New Mexico, according to the Albuquerque Journal, allowing FEMA to provide additional types of assistance to help rebuild. The move extended eligible financial assistance for the repair of water facilities, irrigation ditches, bridges and roads. Santa Fe New Mexican notes that government officials are pressuring President Biden to drop the 25 percent cost-sharing requirement for federal aid, as the current approval will cover only 75 percent of the cost of fire-related damage. President Biden talks about inflation and supply chain issues in the Port of Los Angeles, Friday, June 10, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo / Damian Dovarganes) CLICK HERE TO RECEIVE THE FOX NEWS APPLICATION Like much of the country, extreme heat is expected in New Mexico on Saturday, with dry thunderstorms expected every afternoon until Monday. Western fires have been a threat all year round and scientists and fire experts say they are moving faster and burning hotter than ever due to climate change. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Julia Musto is a Fox News Digital reporter. You can find her on Twitter at @JuliaElenaMusto.
