Calf Canyon and Hermits Peak Fires
May 1, 2022, Daily Update, 09:00AM
Acres: 103,908 acres
Containment: 30%
Start Date: April 19, 2022
Cause: Under investigation
Total personnel: 1,119
Location: Located near Gallinas Canyon
Fuels: Mixed conifer
Highlights: The fire pushed to the south and east yesterday, towards the communities of Mineral Hill and Hot Springs. There is a Red Flag Warning in effect today for fire weather. Evacuation levels continue to change rapidly, please remain vigilant and watch for updates. Respect all closures and allow firefighting resources to work safely. Firefighter and public safety will continue to be the number one priority.
Operations: The fire made a push yesterday, moving southeast towards Mineral Hill and east toward the Hot Springs area. Firefighters focused on structure protection ahead of the fire and continued dozer line construction in key locations, including along CR42 around Ledoux and west of NM Highway 518. A Red Flag Warning is in effect from 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM today. Shifting wind directions, increasing temperatures and poor humidity recoveries will continue to challenge established firelines in several directions. Another structure group has been established and is assigned to the northwest edge of the City of Las Vegas. The other three groups will focus on structure protection in areas of expected fire growth. Line construction will continue with the objective to keep the fire out of Ledoux and west of 518. Six scooper planes and eight helicopters will continue air operations to slow the rate of fire spread, aiding firefighters in their work on the ground. Increasing wind speeds could impede air operations. Please remember that drones are still prohibited in the temporary flight restriction zone, outlined on the map. If drones enter the flight zone, firefighting aircraft will be immediately grounded, eliminating a much-needed resource.
Evacuations: The San Miguel and Mora County Sheriffs ask that all residents within the fire area remain on high alert for changes to evacuation statuses and road closures. It is imperative to respect closures and follow evacuation orders. Failure to do so can pose additional risk to firefighters and the public. 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: A Red Flag Warning is in effect from 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM. There will be south to southwest winds of 15 to 20 mph in the morning, increasing to 22 to 27 mph by late morning and continuing through the afternoon. Wind gusts will be between 40 and 45 mph. Maximum temperatures will top out in the mid 60s to mid 70s. Minimum relative humidity values will be 5 to 10%.
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.
Smoke: The Las Vegas area will see moderate to unhealthy for sensitive group (USG) air quality (AQ) in the morning, especially in drainages. Becoming moderate mid-morning into afternoon as gusty southwest winds mix the environment. More smoke expected late evening into overnight as smoke drains into the valley. Mora will have moderate to USG smoke in the area early, becoming moderate mid-morning into early afternoon, switching to moderate to USG mid to late afternoon. AQ around Rociada, Pendaries, Buena Vista, and Sapello today should range from USG to unhealthy as fire activity and winds increase. 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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