Single Publication

Hermits Peak and Calf Canyon Fires
June 21, 2022, Daily Update, 08:00 AM 

Acres: 341,471
Containment: 72% 
Total personnel: 1,913
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: The high probability of heavy rainfall on Tuesday and Wednesday will likely lead to flash floods and debris flows in fire scarred areas, drainages, identified flood zones, and even normally dry washes. Roads, bridges, and culverts may be damaged or destroyed by major floods and debris flows. The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch, please visit https://www.weather.gov/abq/ for current conditions. If confronted with an area of flooding be prepared to seek higher ground and to wait out the event.  Do not drive into a flooded roadway.  Stay tuned to local radio and television stations for updated emergency messaging. An interactive flood risk map is available at www.tinyurl.com/calfcanyonfloodmap.

North Zone (SWIMT1): What little active fire remains is limited to creeping and smoldering in heavy fuel types such as downed trees. Work continues to establish a contingency line such as the one located north of the western edge of the perimeter where there is still active fire and some hot spots smoldering in the Pecos drainage. These heavy fuels will continue to smolder and burn for some time, even with significant rains. Gravel has been added to soft spots in roads along the contingency line that travels from Pot Creek through Puertocito to the Luna Fire burn scar. Suppression repair continues across the zone.  Rapid response teams are staged in Mora and Taos to respond to new fire starts or flooding/debris flows.  Due to heavy rainfall forecast, many crews will be staged safely for strategic response if needed.

South Zone (SWIMT5): A fourth consecutive day of afternoon clouds and rain has reduced fire behavior on the Hermits Peak and Calf Canyon Fires. Isolated heat sources are expected to smolder and creep in the Pecos River, Rio Mora, and Bear Creek area. Forecasted precipitation will further reduce fire behavior. Air Support may be limited today due to weather conditions. Crews will continue to move heavy equipment to pavement or other hard surfaces as weather conditions allow. Two Task Forces have been established to assist the counties with potential debris removal on roads from flooding in impacted areas. Monsoon moisture is predicted over the fire area for the next several days. 

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: Rain should begin during the morning hours and persist much of the day, with short breaks from time to time. Widespread thunderstorms are not expected but rain rates could be moderate to locally heavy at times, Total rainfall accumulation will likely exceed one inch at higher elevations with locally higher amounts. Lower elevations are expected to receive one-half to one inch of precipitation. Persistent precipitation and cloud cover will result in temperatures 5 to 15 degrees cooler than Monday and minimum relative humidity values remaining over 50 percent.  

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/.

Suppression Repair Property Survey: 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 |www.tinyurl.com/HermitsYouTube | Santa Fe NF |