[1] On April 22, 2022, large portions of New Mexico experienced extreme fire conditions, including a red flag warning from the National Weather Service (NWS) office in Albuquerque.

[4] An investigation by the United States Forest Service concluded in 2023 determined that the probable cause was debris-burning activities.

A prescribed burn by the USFS had taken place in the area and several debris piles left by logging activity had been ignited in January and February of 2022.

Fire crews would create berms around hot piles and spread the ashes to allow the heat to escape.

The red flag event led to the spread of hot ash and embers from the burn piles, igniting the fire.