A judge reaffirms FEMA must pay NM fire victims for emotional damages. Will the agency appeal?

A judge reaffirms FEMA must pay NM fire victims for emotional damages. Will the agency appeal?

The Hermits Peak-Calf Canyon Fire burn scar viewed from the Hermits Peak summit in May 2023. After a judge reaffirmed his earlier ruling ordering FEMA to pay fire victims "noneconomic" damages, the agency has until mid-September to appeal. (Photo by Patrick Lohmann / Source New Mexico)A nearly two-year court battle finally came to an end late last month, with a federal judge ruling — again — that the Federal Emergency Management Agency must pay …