Calf Canyon and Hermits Peak fires combine
April 24, 2022, Daily Update, 09:00AM
Acres: 54,004 acres
Containment: 12%
Start Date: April 19, 2022
Cause: Under investigation
Total personnel: 478
Location: Located near Gallinas Canyon
Fuels: Mixed conifer
Highlights: A drop in temperatures and wind speeds allowed fire crews to gain direct access to some areas of the fire line yesterday. Law enforcement is working to assess structure loss and damage as it becomes safe to enter areas within the fire perimeter. Notifications to property owners will be made by local law enforcement. For safety reasons, power remains off in Pendaries, County Road A-3A, Rociada, Manuelitas and Canoncito. There are several road closures, including Highway 518 from Sapello north to Buena Vista. The safety of firefighters and the public remains the number one priority.
Operations: Yesterday, fire crews focused efforts on protecting homes to the northwest between Highway 518 and the fire’s edge, as well as preventing the fire from moving south into the critical watershed area. The fire continued wind-driven growth across the grasslands at high rates of speed. Today, crews will continue to engage the fire directly where it is safe to do so, with a focus on point protection to minimize impacts on homes within the fire area and other values at risk.
Evacuations: The San Miguel County Sheriff’s Office and Mora County Sheriff’s Office have issued mandatory “GO” evacuations in several areas, and many communities remain in “SET” and “READY” status. The evacuation status and road closures have changed rapidly in the last two days and continue to be assessed using the Ready, Set, Go! system. 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: An expected reduction in temperature and wind speed as well as intermittent cloud cover today may provide opportunities for safer firefighter engagement. Smoke and shifting wind directions could impact visibility and access to certain areas within the fire area.
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: Fire activity around Rociada, Pendaries, and Sapello will cause unhealthy air quality conditions in the area. West winds will produce periods of Unhealthy to Sensitive Groups quality air in the Las Vegas area at times. Moderate conditions throughout the day are expected in the Las Vegas area. Periods of blowing dust, smoke will reduce visibility along portions of NM-518. 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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