District V – Capitan

SMOKEY BEAR HISTORICAL PARK

P.O. Box 591
Capitan, NM 88316
Ph: 575-354-2748
Fax: 575-354-6012

The Capitan District spans the southeast corner of the state. It is comprised of Chaves, De Baca, Eddy, Lea, Lincoln, Otero, and Roosevelt Counties. The district provides technical assistance to landowners and has wildland fire suppression responsibilities that cover 30,877 square miles, encompassing nearly 8.6 million acres of private, non-federal, and non-municipal lands. The staff provides leadership and technical assistance on forest and watershed health projects, as well as fire safety issues.

Nick.Smokovich@emnrd.nm.gov

NICK SMOKOVICH is the Capitan District Forester. Nick joined the Capitan District in February of 2018 after working as the Timber Management Officer for the Socorro District. He has been with the State Forestry Division since 2001. Nick attended Slippery Rock University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where he earned his bachelor’s degree in Park, Recreation, and Natural Resource Management. He has several years of experience assisting landowners with forest management plans through the Forest Stewardship Program, working as an inspector for the American Tree Farm Program, and as an inspector for timber harvesting operations to ensure compliance with NM State Forestry’s harvesting regulations that support sound forest practices. Nick is the District Regional Coordinator for Firewise Communities.

Walter.Wilson@emnrd.nm.gov

WALTER WILSON is the Fire Management Officer (FMO). He joined the Capitan District in August 2020 after 17 years of working as an Administratively Determined (AD) wildland firefighter for the Forestry Division. Walter has been a volunteer firefighter with the Lincoln County Fire Service since 1999 and is currently a Pecos Type 3 Incident Management Team member. As the FMO, Walter conducts fire prevention planning, wildland fire suppression, coordinates fire training courses, and works with communities in the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) to ensure homeowners are educated on the importance of defensible space. Walter also works closely with local governments on Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPP), assists rural fire departments with acquiring funding for firefighting equipment, and participates in many other projects.

Mitchell.Harper@emnrd.nm.gov

MITCHELL HARPER is the Project Forester for the Capitan District. Mitchell joined the Forestry Division in April 2018 as an administratively determined (AD) forest technician before becoming the district’s full-time Project Forester in 2022. Mitchell was born and raised in Capitan and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in agriculture business and economics from New Mexico State University. In his position, he conducts and implements multiple forestry programs, advises state and private cooperators on the best forest practices to meet land management objectives, implements federal cost-share programs with local cooperators, conducts wildfire suppression and timber sale regulation resource protection activities, monitors and inspects tree farm participation and compliance, provides stewardship program guidance, and assists partner agencies, landowners and stakeholders to plan and implement large scale forest restoration projects.

trystan.harpold@emnrd.nm.gov

TRYSTAN HARPOLD is a Project Forester with the Capitan District working from the Mesilla Valley Bosque State Park in Las Cruces. Trystan is a native of Clovis, New Mexico and graduated from New Mexico State University with a duel major in Conservation Ecology and French Language and the University of Missouri with a masters in Natural Resources with an emphasis in Forestry. After completion of his masters, he spent a year and a half conducting timber sale layout and contract compliance with the Washington Department of Natural Resources. In his current position, Trystan works with private landowners and state, federal, and tribal partners to plan and implement forest stewardship projects primarily geared toward fuels reduction and restoration.

christopher.hansen@emnrd.nm.gov

CHRISTOPHER HANSEN is the Capitan District Engine Boss.  Chris is a native of El Paso, TX and was hired on the district April 2024 after 16 years of wildland firefighting experience.  Chris is a well-rounded wildland firefighter who has worked on multiple types of wildland fire crews in multiple geographic areas with multiple agencies.  Within the first few months on the fire line, he realized two things he wanted from his fire career; to make a difference in the wildland fire world, and to teach others to be the best at what they do in their own fire careers.

He started fighting wildfires in the summer of 2008 with the Mescalero Type 2-IA hand crew and then moved on to New Mexico State Forestry in 2009 as an AD engine crewmember within the Capitan District.  Between 2010-2015, he was a Senior Firefighter with both the Carson Hotshots and Sacramento Hotshots.  In 2015-2017, Chris was a Senior Firefighter with Swan Valley Helitack while also taking details with Teton Helitack and Weaver Mountain Helitack.  From 2018-2020, he worked with Angel Fire Fire Department as an Engine Boss and eventually became the Wildland Coordinator in 2020.  He also worked as an Engine Boss for Red River Fire Department from 2021 to 2023.  Chris now passionately serves the great State of New Mexico assisting the District FMO with managing the AD fire program, training local cooperators, and assists the District Foresters with ongoing projects.

PattyL.Wilson@emnrd.nm.gov

PATTY WILSON is the Administrative Management Officer for the Capitan District. She is a proud Native New Mexican who joined the Forestry Division as a seasonal employee for the district in 2012 before becoming its permanent AMO in 2015. Patty has been a team member of the Pecos Zone Type 3 Incident Management Team since 2013 and currently holds the position of Finance Section Chief Type 3.

Smokey Bear Historical Park

Since 1990, the Capitan District has also managed Smokey Bear Historical Park. Exhibits at the site include a historical timeline of fire prevention programs, Smokey Bear’s story and final resting place, information about fire ecology, and more. The surrounding gardens are an exploration of New Mexico’s life zones, desert to sub-alpine. The park is a major participant in local schools’ annual Conservation Days. Smokey Bear Days are held during the first weekend in May, and the park is involved in Capitan’s Fourth of July celebrations. Easter and Halloween are also big events at Smokey Bear Historic Park.