Updated May 23, 2022

Lead State Agency: The New Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management

Information for residents affected by wildfire, with a link to the disaster assistance form:

◆ Website: nmdhsem.org.

◆ Overall wildfire information: https://www.nmdhsem.org/2022-wildfires/?fbclid=IwAR2tPwmYDSpx8uDIx2jVtRKMUTiJ5LLT9AqaO-zc0odqiYaB7yQFQXLJSIw

◆ Faceboook page: facebook.com/NewMexicoDHSEM

◆ Fire Emergency Services Help Hotline: 800-432-2080, press 2 for fire emergency services

◆ Red Cross: 1-800-RED-CROSS or redcross.org for assistance

◆ For evacuees seeking free long-term hotel stays and free meals in Albuquerque, call 505-244-8604

Help with Animals

Santa Fe County

◆ Santa Fe Cats has space available to care for wildfire evacuees’ cats. For those without insurance reimbursement for pet boarding, a donation is appreciated. No cat will be turned away. Call Santa Fe Cats at 505-216-5141.

◆ The Santa Fe Animal Shelter & Humane Society takes in cats displaced by the fire but does not have space for owned dogs. It offers pet food, cat litter, and other supplies for evacuees; call 505-983-4309, ext. 1606. The shelter is requesting donations.

◆ The Santa Fe County Fairgrounds takes in dogs and chickens (no cats); call 505-471-4711. Please see the latest information about volunteering on this website.

◆ Glorieta Conference Center, 11 NM 50 Glorieta, NM, takes in owned animals. For more information, contact Misha Goodman at mgoodman@bernco.gov or 505-975-5945.

San Miguel County

◆ The Pecos arena is sheltering livestock and horses; contact Freddy Lujan at 505-930-3986 or 505-757-3986.

◆ Zamora Trail Event Center, 1 Santa Fe Trail, Las Vegas. The Humane Society of the United States is opening a center for pets of evacuated people.

◆ For stray Las Vegas animals, please contact San Miguel County’s Sheriff’s department, 505-425-7589.

◆ For missing pets in San Miguel and Mora counties, please visit the following Animal Welfare Coalition resources: Facebook page

Taos County

◆ The Taos County Sheriff’s Posse Arena is being used to house livestock and horses; contact livestock inspector Ruben Baca at 575-770-1490.

Evacuation shelters

Rio Arriba County

◆ Rio Arriba Fairgrounds/Rule Event Center, State Road 554 No. 122-A, Abiquiu, NM, 505-685-4523

San Miguel County

◆ Old Memorial Middle School gym in Las Vegas; call 505-429-0336.

◆ San Miguel County Public Works in Las Vegas; call 505-652-8728.

Santa Fe County

◆ The Downs at Santa Fe, 27475 W. Frontage Road, Santa Fe. Evacuees and their pets are welcome.

Taos County

◆ Peñasco High School gym, contact Melissa Sandoval at 575-779-3057.

◆ Red River Convention Center; call 575-754-1708.

Guadalupe County

◆ City of Santa Rosa, Blue Hole, 1085 Blue Hole Road, and the Santa Rosa Convention Center

Where to Donate / Help for People

Rio Arriba County

◆ Espanola Humane, 108 Hamm Parkway, Espanola, NM, took in 21 kittens and cats from the Las Vegas animal shelter and is accepting donations on its Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/EspanolaHumane and its website, espanolahumane.org, and will continue pet food and supply distribution to evacuees.

◆ Poeh Marketplace, next to the Poeh Cultural Center, 86 Cities of Gold Road, Santa Fe, accepts donations of dog and cat food to distribute to evacuee locations. 

San Miguel County

◆ Las Vegas New Mexico Community Foundation
Website: https://www.lvnmcf.org/donate-now/
The Foundation is in contact with relief organizations with established programs in San Miguel and Mora counties to find out which ones are facing unmet needs. The plan is to process organizations’ funding requests as they come in and award grants of up to $10,000 each to those who demonstrate needs.

◆ Bar Castaneda
Website: https://www.gofundme.com/f/meals-for-those-displaced-by-the-nm-fires
Bar Castaneda in Las Vegas plans to offer a free buffet seven days a week for people who have been impacted by the wildfires and to emergency responders.

Santa Fe County

◆ The Santa Fe Fire Department’s Station 5, 1130 Siler Road, accepts donations of food and supplies between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. on weekdays. Items requested: nonperishable foods, sports drinks, children’s clothing and toys, diapers, personal hygiene items and paper products, as well as animal feed, troughs, hay, bowls and crates.

◆ The All Together New Mexico Fund is accepting monetary donations at alltogethernm.org. Grants from the fund will go to emergency shelters, food and water distribution and access to medical support.

◆ The State Employees Credit Union accepts monetary donations that will go to the “Northern NM Fires” fund. The credit union also accepts nonperishable food items, bottled water, new and unused blankets, clothing and hygiene products.

◆ Santa Fe Habitat for Humanity accepts goods at the ReStore, 2520 Camino Entrada. Requested items: nonperishable food, hygiene products, cleaning products, feminine products, clothes, diapers and baby food.

◆ The Food Depot Disaster Relief Fund accepts money, food, water and hygiene items for evacuees and emergency responders. Visit thefooddepot.org/disaster-relief.

Source: Santa Fe New Mexican, Española Humane. Please note: This list is updated frequently. For additions and corrections, please email ben@espanolahumane.org.

The best strategy for any disaster is to prepare for the unexpected. Here are some tips to keep you and your pets safe:

• If you evacuate, take your pet with you. Most emergency shelters do not allow animals, so have a plan for your pet. Safe places include homes of friends or relatives, pet-friendly hotels, pet kennels or veterinary facilities.
• If you can’t take your pet, put a Rescue Alert Sticker or flyer to the front of your home with the types and number of pets listed.
• Make sure your pet wears a collar with a rabies tag at all times and has an updated microchip.

Assemble a pet emergency kit that includes:

• Leash, harness and/or pet carrier.
• One-week supply of food and water with bowls.
• Medications and pet first aid kit.
• Copies of vaccination, medical records and a photo of you and your pet in a plastic bag.
• Plastic bags, disinfectants, paper towels and for cats, a litter box.
• Blankets, toys and treats.
• Kennel or crate.

Help animals before a crisis:

• Dogs and cats often sense a disaster before it strikes. Bring animals inside early before a disaster and never leave a pet outside or tied up.
• Have newspapers, paper or puppy pads on hand. Feed pets moist or canned food so they will need to drink less water.
• Separate dogs and cats. Watch your animals closely and keep them leashed for safety.