Single Publication

Hermits Peak and Calf Canyon Fires
May 25, 2022, Daily Update, 8:00AM

Acres: 311,148 | Containment: 42% | Total personnel: 2,987Start 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 CanyonFuels: Heavy mixed conifer, ponderosa pine, brush, and grass

Highlights: There was no overnight infrared flight to update today’s acreage due to cloud cover but there was minimal fire growth yesterday. Firefighters continue to reinforce and mop up line to increase containment. While over 50% of the fire area received some precipitation, it was not enough to penetrate drought impacted duff layers and heavy fuels.  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:

West Zone (SWAIMT1): Work continued in the west zone of the fire yesterday constructing dozer line along the contingency line near Gallegos Peak and securing handline near Martinez Pond. Today, nine hotshot crews, aircraft and heavy equipment will be working along the rugged eight mile stretch from Angostura to “Thumb’s Thumb,” the spot fire on the northeast corner. Work will continue on contingency lines to the north as well. Firefighters continue to deepen containment lines in the 121 corridor near Chacon and continue with structure protection efforts there as well as along the NM Hwy 518 in Tres Ritos, Loma Linda and Las Mochas. Structure resources are also engaged in the Peñasco area. 

East Zone (CAIIMT2): Yesterday, fire crews continued clearing vegetation along the ridgeline (near Taos/Colfax County line) towards Angel Fire, creating a shaded fuel break. Fire suppression repair work was also initiated throughout the East Zone to help minimize potential soil erosion and other impacts resulting from fire suppression activities. Today it was reported that control lines are complete up and down the East Zone. Mop up activities continue along contingency lines being established below Black Lake and the 434 Rd. Dozer line is being constructed to the north of Angel Fire along the ridgeline.

South Zone (CAIIMT5): Yesterday’s cloud cover and higher relative humidity moderated fire behavior with little movement on the southwest and west perimeters. Good progress was made improving and constructing containment lines to slow the forward progress of the fire. Crews continue to clear and improve defensible space around structures in Pecos Valley. In the Pecos Wilderness, resource managers are working with firefighters to locate and construct containment lines

Evacuations: Scan the QR code or go to tinyurl.com/HermitsPeak for the evacuation map and follow:

San Miguel County Sheriff’s Office: facebook.com/smcso.nm

Mora County Sheriff’s Office: facebook.com/moracountysheriffoffice

Taos County Sheriff’s Office: facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064642843163

Colfax County Sheriff’s Office: facebook.com/Colfax-County-Sheriffs-Office-New-Mexico-971817152850308

Weather: Overall warmer and drier with mostly sunny skies. Daytime high temperatures will be in the upper 50s to upper 60s. Minimum relative humidity values will be in the 18-25% range. Winds will be out of the north-northwest, 10-15 mph with gusts to 20 mph.

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 |