Single Publication

Hermits Peak and Calf Canyon Fires
June 18, 2022, Daily Update, 08:00 AM 

Acres: 341,314
Containment: 72%
Total personnel: 2,442 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: Fire activity is diminishing due to higher humidity, lower temperatures, and wetting rain in some areas, but smoldering will continue in the Hamilton Mesa area on the west side of the fire, as well as other areas where heavy fuels are being slowly consumed. Although wetting rain has immediate moderating effects on light fuels, larger logs can take much longer to absorb moisture and will continue to produce smoke until a season ending event. Many fire evacuations have been removed or reduced. Please continue to monitor weather and flood warnings for potentially catastrophic debris flows and flooding and be prepared to evacuate or move to higher ground on short notice (see links below). 
 
Operations: 
 
North Zone (SWIMT1): Wildland Fire Modules will continue to monitor and patrol the fire perimeter along the western edge from Ripley Peak south to Serpent Lake. Also in the west, dozers and heavy equipment are making good progress improving roads and control lines. In the north, work continues in the Pot Creek corridor, where road work is expected to be complete in 3-4 days. The three Suppression Repair groups are showing rapid progress and continue to operate in Chacon, Sierra Bonita, and south of Mora. Those groups, along with the Rapid Response Task Force based in Taos, continue to be prepared to respond to debris flow and flooding, with specialized tools and training.  

South Zone (SWIMT5): Recent weather changes reduced fire activity after several extreme days. With the push of south-southeast winds came good cloud coverage, higher humidity, and light rain throughout the Pecos River drainage area. Today will see similar weather conditions, with strong cloud cover and possible showers building through the afternoon. The dead and down timber takes time to soak in moisture, so smoldering trees and downed logs still have the potential to become active again. Crews will continue chipping and suppression repair operations throughout the Barillas Peak and Skyline Trail area. Firefighters continue to improve handlines and remove a variety of fuel types along Hamilton Mesa Trail. Helicopters dropped 14,000 gallons of water yesterday and will continue water drops along the Pecos River area today. Operations has identified suppression equipment available to support local cooperators if a flash flood should occur. There are no changes to road closures or evacuation orders in the fire area. 

Evacuations: For updated evacuation information from the Hermits Peak and Calf Canyon Fires: www.tinyurl.com/hermitspeak. The Ready, Set, Go evacuation guide is available in English and Spanish here: https://tinyurl.com/RSGNM. For disaster assistance resources, visit: https://www.nmdhsem.org/2022-wildfires/.  

Weather: The thunderstorm threat trends down a bit Saturday as the main monsoonal moisture axis moves slightly to the west. Isolated storms are still possible, and they are expected to remain wet in nature with higher chances in the vicinity of the Midnight Fire. Relative humidity recoveries will remain excellent with a slight trend down in minimum relative humidity values but still in the 20 to 30% range. Winds remain out of the south with max gusts remaining in the 25-mph range during the afternoon hours. 

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: Interactive flood and debris flow map: www.tinyurl.com/hermitspeak 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/.

Suppression Repair Property Survey: Landowners within the fire area can complete this survey for assistance with suppression repair on their property: https://www.tinyurl.com/suppressionrepair 

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 |