Calf Canyon and Hermit’s Peak Fires
April 26, 2022, Daily Update, 09:00AM
Acres: 60,173 acres
Containment: 12%
Start Date: April 19, 2022
Cause: Under investigation
Total personnel: 817
Location: Located near Gallinas Canyon
Fuels: Mixed conifer
Highlights: Firefighters were able to engage aggressively across the fire area yesterday, capitalizing on the favorable weather conditions. Law enforcement has begun the process of loss and damage assessments, and notifications will be made to property owners once confirmed. Powerlines within fire areas will be energized when it is safe to do so. Evacuation and road closures remain in place, including Highway 518 from Sapello north to Buena Vista. Please respect all closures to keep our firefighting resources safe and effective. Firefighter and public safety will continue to be the number one priority.
Operations: With more favorable weather conditions and less active fire behavior, firefighters were able to engage in operations within the fire in areas that had been difficult to reach safely. Gaining access to these areas is providing firefighters with boots-on-the-ground knowledge about the intensity of fire activity and the ability to ground-truth information from infrared flights and other reconnaissance. This knowledge of the area will help fire managers determine where to focus resources based on weather, terrain, predicted fire behavior and values at risk. These decisions are based on the highest probability of success and flexible options in the event of sudden changes in weather or fire behavior. Utilizing heavy equipment, air resources and crews on the ground, firefighters can focus on securing perimeter lines to prevent further growth and protecting structures. Beginning yesterday and continuing today, four scooper planes have been delivering water to the fire area. To date, the scoopers, along with other aircraft, have delivered over 265,000 gallons of water to the fire.
Evacuations: Mandatory “GO” evacuations determined by the San Miguel County Sheriff’s Office and Mora County Sheriff’s Office remain in place today. Some communities are still in “SET” and “READY” status. Evacuation status, repopulation and road closure statuses may change quickly, so please follow San Miguel County and Mora County Sheriff’s Facebook pages for the latest updates at https://www.facebook.com/smcso.nm and https://www.facebook.com/moracountysheriffoffice.
Weather: Mostly favorable weather conditions, with occasional wind gusts and gradually rising temperatures, are expected to persist today, assisting firefighters as they utilize this window of opportunity to secure line and protect values at risk ahead of an expected wind event later this week.
Restrictions: The Santa Fe National Forest has issued a closure order and has implemented Stage II fire restrictions to protect public health and safety during fire operations on the Calf Canyon Fire. Full closure order and map are available at https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/santafe/home. The temporary flight restriction (TFR) in place over the area was expanded to include the Gallinas Canyon area. The TFR also covers unmanned aircraft, or drones. If a private drone intrudes into the fire area, it will require a pause in all air operations and impede firefighting progress, putting firefighters at greater risk. More information on the dangers drones pose to wildland firefighting aircraft and personnel on the ground can be found at: www.nifc.gov/drones.
Smoke: Winds out of the south - southwest will reduce smoke impacts in the Las Vegas area. Fire activity around Rociada, Pendaries, and Sapello continue today producing unhealthy air quality conditions throughout the day as temperatures rise and winds increase. Smoke will reduce visibility along portions of NM 518 north of Sapello. Drive carefully and turn on your headlights for safety. An interactive smoke map at https://fire.airnow.gov/ allows you to zoom into your area to see the latest smoke conditions.
Future Fire Information: The Calf Canyon Fire and Hermit Peak Fire Information office hours are 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM. The phone number for fire information is 505-356-2636. The email address is 2022.calfcanyon@firenet.gov. Future fire information will continue to be posted on Inciweb, the SFNF Facebook and Twitter, SFNF website, and New Mexico Fire Information website
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