Single Publication

Hermits Peak and Calf Canyon Fires
June 1, 2022, Daily Update, 08:00AM

Acres: 315,830 | Containment: 54% | Total personnel: 3,080 |
Start Date: Hermits Peak: April 6, 2022; Calf Canyon: April 19, 2022
Cause: Hermits Peak: Spot fires from prescribed burn; Calf Canyon: Holdover fire from prescribed pile burn
Location: Located near Gallinas Canyon
Fuels: Heavy mixed conifer, ponderosa pine, brush, and grass 
  

Highlights: Improved weather conditions over the next several days could bring some moisture and an opportunity for firefighters to make additional progress on extinguishing heat near the fire’s edge. However, the potential for afternoon thunderstorms could cause new fire starts. Initial attack crews will be ready to address new fires should they occur. Yesterday fixed wing aircraft and helicopters were able to fly all day and should be up again today as the weather permits. 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 (PNW2): Structure protection engines remained focused on the NM Highway 518 corridor as well as the NM Highway 121 corridor from Chacon to Cleveland yesterday, patrolling and mopping up the fire perimeter. Despite strong southerly winds, crews continued to work the hot spot inside the fireline above Chacon that flared up on Monday, and the containment line in that area remains secure. Multiple hotshot crews focused their attention on holding and securing the northwest flank of the fire between Angostura and Ripley Point, and south to Serpent Lake yesterday in preparation for today’s wind shift. Additional crews moved into the area near Las Mochas yesterday to inspect and reinforce contingency firelines northwest of the fire perimeter. As a cold front moves in today, it will bring more moderate wind, higher relative humidity and a potential for moisture. This will give heavy equipment an opportunity to begin chipping slash along the NM Highway 442 corridor. This chipping operation will take approximately three days to complete and will be implemented in conjunction with the New Mexico Department of Transportation which will assist in traffic control measures. With more moderate weather conditions, heavy equipment, engines and crews will resume constructing additional contingency lines north of the fire area from approximately Rio Pueblo east to Bristlecone.

South Zone (SWIMT2): Suppression repair crews are working down the east side of the fire and Gallinas Canyon to close dozer lines, reseed disturbed areas, and chip downed slash. Repair work will continue on the south and over to Barillas Peak over the next several days where suppression activities occurred. The fire is most active in the Pecos Wilderness around Bear Creek and in the Trampas Fire burn scar. Helicopters and scooper planes have been dropping water to slow fire progression so crews can get in handline from the Iron Gate Campground to Beatty’s Camp. A mule pack string is being used to haul food and supplies to support approximately 250 firefighters working in the wilderness. With cooler temperatures, higher relative humidity, and lighter winds, the fire progression in this area will be driven by available fuels rather than weather for the next several days.

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:  Southeasterly winds in the early morning today will change to south winds in the afternoon. Wind speeds will be 10-15 mph, gusting 20-25 mph. Minimum relative humidity will be approximately 17-23%. Daytime temperatures will be in the upper 60s-70s. Isolated thunderstorms are possible late Wednesday into Wednesday night.

Closures and Restrictions: All National Forests in New Mexico have closures or restrictions in place due to extreme fire danger. To learn more about these closures and restrictions, visit: https://tinyurl.com/bdy5y99r. Information related to fire restrictions across public and private land can be found at: https://nmfireinfo.com/fire-restrictions/.

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