Single Publication

  April 18, 2022 Daily Update

Acres: 7,545 acres

Start Date:  April 6, 2022

Cause: Multiple spot fires spread beyond the prescribed fire project boundary

Containment: 61%

Total personnel: 672

Location: Approx. 12 miles northwest of Las Vegas, NM, Pecos/Las Vegas Ranger District, Hermits Peak/Pecos Wilderness

Fuels: Mixed conifer

Highlights: Fire activity moderated along the northern edge of the fire perimeter Sunday. Firefighters continued to focus their efforts on the northeast flank of the fire. Calmer winds today will give both aviation and ground firefighters an opportunity to identify and suppress hot spots. There will be a virtual community meeting tonight, April 18, at 6pm.   Subject matter experts, local officials, and members of the Southwest Incident Management Team will give an update on current fire conditions here at https://www.facebook.com/santafeNF.

There was a new start, the Cooks Peak Fire, on private land Sunday near Ocate, NM, which is visible from the Hermits Peak Incident. The fire is wind driven, and initial attack resources from the Hermits Peak Fire assisted the New Mexico State Forestry Division with suppression efforts.

Operations: Firefighters continued to patrol the perimeter Sunday increasing containment to 61%. Fire activity has moderated due to suppression efforts over the last week. The southern edge of the fire will continue to be monitored by ground resources, looking for any signs of heat or smoke near the fire line. Firefighting resources will focus on the northeastern edge of the fire, building and reinforcing containment lines. Aircraft will take advantage of breaks in the wind intensity today to fly in support of suppression efforts. Firefighter and public safety remain our number one priority, and resources are focused on suppressing the Hermits Peak Fire as quickly and safely as possible, protecting nearby communities.    

Evacuations: The San Miguel County Sheriff’s Office continues to evaluate evacuation orders using the Ready, Set, Go! system. More information and details on evacuation orders are available on the San Miguel County Sheriff’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/smcso.nm. San Ignacio, County Road A3A, Canoncito and Pendaries Village are still in GO, mandatory evacuation status.

Weather: Red Flag conditions lifted today for the first time in over a week.  Cooler temperatures are expected today, and winds are moderating but continue to be shifting, with sustained wind speeds of 10-15 mph, gusting to 25 mph.  The overnight cold front will supply a modest bump in relative humidity.

Restrictions: The Santa Fe National Forest has issued a closure order to protect public health and safety during fire operations on the Hermits Peak Fire. The full closure order and map are available at https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/santafe/home. A temporary flight restriction (TFR) is in place over the area, which includes unmanned aircraft, or drones. 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: Smoke from the Hermits Peak Fire may be visible from Gallinas, El Porvenir, San Pablo, Mineral Hill, San Geronimo, Gascon, Pendaries, Rociada, Mora, Ledoux, Las Vegas, and along the I-25 corridor. Smoke-sensitive individuals and people with respiratory problems or heart disease are encouraged to take precautionary measures. An interactive smoke map at https://fire.airnow.gov/ allows you to zoom into your area to see the latest smoke conditions.