Hermits Peak and Calf Canyon Fires
May 28, 2022, Daily Update, 08:00AM
Acres: 314,228 | Containment: 48% | Total personnel: 2,950
Start Date: Hermits Peak: April 6, 2022; Calf Canyon: April 19, 2022
Cause: Hermits Peak: Spot fires from prescribed burn; Calf Canyon: Under Investigation
Location: Located near Gallinas Canyon
Fuels: Heavy mixed conifer, ponderosa pine, brush, and grass
Highlights: A Red Flag Warning in effect today may contribute to an increase fire behavior and visible smoke from fire burning within the perimeter. Firefighters are holding and patrolling lines across the fire to prevent escape and defend structures in areas with active heat. Please use caution when traveling through the fire area this weekend as there will be heavy fire traffic in addition to visitors for the holiday. Residents of San Miguel, Mora, Taos, Colfax and Santa Fe Counties should remain on high alert for changes to evacuation statuses and road closures.
Operations:
North Zone (SWAIMT1): Progress continued yesterday along NM Highway 518 southeast of Angostura to secure and deepen containment line. Crews also worked to secure the area around Martinez Pond. There was increased fire activity inside the fire perimeter in Division N yesterday north of Horseshoe lake, that produced visible smoke. Hotshot crews will continue work on the “Thumb Print” spot fire in the northeast corner to cool down areas of heat near the line. The handline from the spot fire to Angostura will have crews working along it to manage hot spots and prevent spread north toward HWY 518. Heavy equipment is continuing work on dozer lines north of the fire. Fire crews remain actively engaged in holding and patrolling containment line around the east side of the fire, utilizing aircraft to cool down hot spots near the perimeter as winds allow. Please remember that drone incursions within the Temporary Flight Restriction zone will result in an immediate set-down of all aircraft. If you fly, we can’t.
South Zone (CAIIMT5): Yesterday, firefighters continued to improve containment lines between Barillas Peak and East Bull Creek on the southwest perimeter. Crews aided by water dropping helicopters worked to extinguish any burning or smoldering vegetation (trees, burning stumps, etc.) near containment lines. Firefighters are making good progress as evident by reduced smoke in the area. To the north, in an area that had previously burned, the fire became very active near Big Pine in the Upper Gallinas area. Structure protection resources responded to provide protection to homes and property and the evacuation status for Calf Canyon changed to GO. Today will be a critical fire weather day with low humidity and increased winds. The priority is structure protection and securing the area around the Calf Canyon Subdivision near Big Pine. Firefighters will also continue to extinguish any burning vegetation near containment lines on the southwest perimeter. Fire Managers are optimistic that a few more days of work on the southwest perimeter will diminish the threat to homes and property in the Pecos Valley corridor.
Evacuations: go to tinyurl.com/HermitsPeak for the evacuation map and follow: San Miguel County Sheriff facebook.com/smcso.nm
Mora County Sheriff facebook.com/moracountysheriffoffice
Taos County Sheriff facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064642843163
Colfax County Sheriff facebook.com/Colfax-County-Sheriffs-Office-New-Mexico-971817152850308
Santa Fe County Sheriff https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064737934118
The Ready, Set, Go evacuation guide is available in English and Spanish here: https://tinyurl.com/RSGNM
Weather: A Red Flag Warning is in effect from 11 am Saturday morning through 9 pm Saturday evening, Minimum relative humidity values will be between 5 and 10%. Daytime temperatures will hold steady in the mid 70s-near 80. Winds will ramp up, becoming southwesterly at 20 to 25 mph with gusts to 40 mph. Wind gusts up to 45 mph on ridges.
Closures and Restrictions: Stage 3 forest-wide closures are in effect for the Carson and Santa Fe National Forests, public access is prohibited and the restrictions and closure orders can be found on the Carson NF website and Santa Fe NF website. BLM New Mexico Fire Restrictions https://tinyurl.com/BLMNewMexico.
After Fire Flooding and Recovery Resources: After Wildfire New Mexico guide https://www.afterwildfirenm.org/ ; Hermits Peak & Calf Canyon Fire Burned Area Emergency Response information https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8104/.
Smoke: An interactive smoke map at fire.airnow.gov/ allows you to zoom into your area to see the latest smoke conditions.
Fire Information: Office Hours: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM | Phone: 505-356-2636 | Email: 2022.hermitspeak@firenet.gov Online: inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8069/ | https://www.facebook.com/CalfCanyonHermitsPeak| nmfireinfo.com |tinyurl.com/HermitsYouTube | Santa Fe NF |
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