Single Publication

Acres: 303,701| Containment: 40% | Total personnel: 2,408 Start Date: Hermits Peak: April 6, 2022; Calf Canyon: April 19, 2022

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 
 
Highlights: Due to the inability to get an infrared flight overnight, there will not be an update to acreage until later today. Firefighters worked to contain spot fires in the northwest corner of the fire and cool down areas of intense heat around the fire perimeter. Another Red Flag Warning is in effect for the fire area today. Residents of San Miguel, Mora, Taos, and Colfax Counties should remain on high alert for changes to evacuation statuses and road closures. Stage 3 forest-wide closures for the Santa Fe and Carson National Forest went into effect yesterday.     Operations:  West Zone (SWAIMT1):  Red Flag conditions contributed to fire activity on the northwest corner of the fire yesterday. Work continued near Angostura in Loma Linda and on the north side of NM Hwy 518 near Tres Ritos to control spot fires and limit fire spread west towards Jicarita Peak. Crews continued with the protection of homes in the HWY 121 corridor. Today brings another Red Flag Warning. Firefighters will continue to work to contain spot fires north of HWY 518 and limit spread north of Martinez Pond. Structure protection measures will continue to be implemented throughout the West Zone, as well as the reinforcement of contingency lines in La Junta Canyon and Pot Creek to prevent further spread to the north.

East Zone (CAIIMT2): Yesterday, firefighters continued direct line construction, utilizing dozers and hand crews throughout the East Zone. Working the fire’s edge from Buena Vista north to Guadalupita, crews were able to increase containment line and mop-up hot spots inside the fire. Resources were shifted to the northern tip of the fire to construct direct line to minimize further spread to the north. Dozer line connecting the northern edge of the fire to Luna Fire (2020) burn scar was completed and will serve as a contingency line in the event the fire moves in that direction. Today, work will continue below Angel Fire, with crews creating a contingency line along the predominant ridge (which roughly follows the county line). Structure protection continues, with firefighters clearing around the communities of Angel Fire, Black Lake Mesa, Black Lake Resorts and Black Lake (with support from local firefighting resources). A second contingency line will be constructed around Black Lake and connect to the Cooks Peak (2022) fire scar.

South Zone (CAIIMT5): Fire activity in the Southern Zone remained moderate Thursday. Winds from the southwest aided firefighters as they pushed the fire back on itself. Firefighters on the eastern perimeter of the South Zone continued to monitor firelines, repair and rehabilitate fireline areas and extinguish any hot spots. On the western perimeter of the South Zone, crews continue to construct indirect control lines adjacent to Upper and Lower Colonias, Cow Creek, and Bull Canyon. The fire burning in the wilderness, near Bear Canyon, remains active but is being held in its current footprint by cliffs and rocky terrain. Structure protection crews continue to work in the Pecos cooridor.

Evacuations: 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=100064642843163Colfax County Sheriff’s Office: facebook.com/Colfax-County-Sheriffs-Office-New-Mexico-971817152850308

Weather: A Red Flag Warning is in effect for today, with another round of west winds reaching 25 mph and gusting above 45 mph in the afternoon. Humidity will fall below 15% for most of the day.

Restrictions: Carson National Forest, Camino Real Ranger District closure order and map: fs.usda.gov/alerts/carson/alerts-notices. Santa Fe National Forest Pecos/Las Vegas Ranger District closure order and map: fs.usda.gov/detail/santafe/alerts-notices/?cid=stelprd3802009. BLM New Mexico Fire Restrictions https://tinyurl.com/BLMNewMexico.   Smoke: An interactive smoke map at fire.airnow.gov/ allows you to zoom into your area to see the latest smoke conditions.  Fire Information: 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/ | facebook.com/CalfCanyonHermitsPeak | nmfireinfo.com |tinyurl.com/HermitsYouTube