The U.S. Forest Service (USFS) issued on Friday (20) a request for temporary suspension of controlled fires throughout the United States, with the aim of reducing the risk of forest fires. The measure was taken after the organization accidentally caused the largest occurrence of fire ever recorded in New Mexico, a state located in the southwest of the country.

Forest Service chief Randy Moore told Reuters fire alert levels were too high to use the prescribed fire and a 90-day policy review will be made before operations planned for this fall. "The lessons learned and any improvements resulting from the program will be implemented before resuming the prescribed burn," he said in a statement.

The Hermits Peak Calf Canyon fire is of great proportion and is still out of control, officials said. So far, it has burned more than 300,000 acres (123,000 hectares), destroyed 1,500 properties and displaced tens of thousands of people.

For biologists, the measure is crucial to reduce high fuel levels in national forests and there is concern about the potentially devastating effects of prescribed fire, if poorly used.

On April 6, for example, a controlled fire was held near Las Vegas, New Mexico, despite forecasts of strong winds in the region. The same fire later merged with another wind-driven fire, the cause of which is under investigation, to then form the current hermits peak calf canyon fire.

In a statement, New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham said she met with the head of the Forest Service and asked for "additional local consultations and greater consideration" before controlled fires on federal land during the state's wind season."