Cerro Pelado fire burned in dry, windy conditions across 60 sq miles last year and was traced to burn of piles of forest debris

The US Forest Service’s own prescribed burn started a sprawling 2022 wildfire that nearly reached Los Alamos, New Mexico, the agency acknowledged Monday in a report published after a lengthy investigation.

The Cerro Pelado fire burned in dry, windy conditions across more than 60 sq miles (155 sq kilometers) and crept within a few miles of the city of Los Alamos and its companion US national security lab. As the fire approached, schools closed and evacuation bags were packed before the flames tapered off.