Hermits Peak and Calf Canyon Fires
May 27, 2022, Daily Update, 08:00AM
Acres: 312,230 | Containment: 47% | Total personnel: 3,009
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: Critical fire weather and increased traffic over the holiday weekend pose additional dangers to firefighters and the public. Please remain alert for fire traffic and watch for evacuation level changes if you are visiting in the area. Many recreational activities can result in new fire starts in the current drought conditions and extreme weather. Please use extreme caution while recreating. Firefighters on the ground will remain engaged and air resources will be in the air while wind speeds allow. To date, 494 miles of dozer line has been constructed around the fire. Please remember, if you fly, we can’t – If any drones are launched in the Temporary Flight Restriction zone, all firefighting aircraft will be grounded immediately. 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): Higher temperatures and increased wind speeds created more fire activity within the fire perimeter in the West Zone yesterday. A smoke column in the NM Highway 121 corridor from an interior pocket of timber was visible from many directions. Today, firefighters will be engaged in holding and patrolling line along the east side of the fire, the Chacon area and around the spot fire on the northwest corner. Efforts will be focused on a section of dozer line that parallels the Taos/Colfax County line southeast of Angostura. Crews will also focus on a hot spot in Division VV on the east side of the fire. Fire traffic will be heavy along NM 518 throughout the West Zone. Firefighting activity will be ongoing as we head into a holiday weekend with large community events in the area. Please travel through the area with caution and give firefighting resources plenty of room. Be alert for fire traffic both on the ground and overhead. Do not stop in areas of fire activity to take photos as this could be unsafe for both the public and air and ground resources.South Zone (CAIIMT5): Yesterday, warmer and drier weather brought increased fire activity on the southwest perimeter between Barillas Peak and Bull Creek which started several spot fires outside of the containment lines. Fire managers were confident last night that crews would be able to contain the spots aided by favorable winds that were blowing the fire back into areas that had already burned. Today, the highest priority is to contain the spot fires in the southwest corner. Crews are also constructing handlines in the Pecos Wilderness where they have made good progress working through the trees that were blown down during last winter’s storms.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
Weather: Friday will see the warming and drying trend continue as the upper-level ridge builds over the area. Daytime temperatures will be in the upper 70s-mid 80s, with minimum relative humidity values dropping into the 6-11% range. Winds will increase, out of the west-southwest direction at 10-15 mph with gusts to 26 mph and locally higher over ridgetops. Critical fire weather conditions return to the state Friday, as very dry and windy conditions build for the extended weekend.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.govOnline: inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8069/ | https://www.facebook.com/CalfCanyonHermitsPeak| nmfireinfo.com |tinyurl.com/HermitsYouTube | Santa Fe NF |
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