Landscape Left Scorched by Calf Canyon Fire in New Mexico's Mora County

Residents in New Mexico’s Mora County on Wednesday, May 18, surveyed some of the charred landscape left behind by the Calf Canyon-Hermit’s Peak fire, which on Monday became the largest wildfire ever recorded in the state.

This footage from by Tanya Kwan-Simmons shows scorched woodland near her home in Cleveland, a community northwest of Mora, on Wednesday afternoon.

“That was the shed and this… was the house,” Kwan-Simmons says in the footage.

Speaking to Storyful, Kwan-Simmons said: “Our house and all of the ones around us are total losses, just the crumpled metal roofs are left (…) The fire took everything.”

The Calf Canyon-Hermit’s Peak fire was continuing to spread on Friday, May 20, having burned over a total of 303,701 acres (475 sq. miles), according to fire officials.

Officials told residents of four counties – Mora, San Miguel, Taos, and Colfax – to “remain on high alert for changes to evacuation statuses and road closures.” Credit: Tanya Kwan-Simmons via Storyful

Video transcript

- Oh, look at this big one.

TANYA KWAN-SIMMONS: Another disc golf basket. Wow, amazing, there it is on the ground. Neighbor's house, the Evans.

- Hey, you're right.

TANYA KWAN-SIMMONS: And.

- Green leaves.

TANYA KWAN-SIMMONS: Dandelions, one of the hardiest plants on the planet.

- Disc golf basket down there.

TANYA KWAN-SIMMONS: All the disc golf baskets are here. Propane tank. That was the shed. And this was the house.