Single Publication

LAS VEGAS, NM – April 10, 2022 – In coordination with the San Miguel County Sheriff’s Office, voluntary evacuations for the communities of San Ignacio, Las Dispensas and Pendaries have been put in place. Forecasted winds exceeding 60 mph have been predicted for today. Increasing winds each day through next week can cause holding concerns, drier weather is forecasted into next week and a RED FLAG WARNING is in effect for the fire area today until 8 pm. Leadership from Team 4, a Type 2 incident management team out of Arizona has arrived at the fire and will shadow the Northern NM Type 3 Team to take command of the fire on Monday April 11th. The Northern New Mexico Type 3 Incident Management Team will continue using full suppression strategy utilizing hand crews and assessing the best strategy to engage the fire during the high wind period. The Hermits Peak Fire is in steep, rugged, terrain with limited access by vehicle. Firefighters are working to keep the fire out of Beaver Creek and out of the Gallinas Municipal Watershed. Firefighters will continue to secure the fire’s edge as well as strengthen indirect fire line along the Forest boundary.

Start date:  April 06, 2022

Location:  Approximately 12 miles northwest of Las Vegas, NM, on the Pecos/Las Vegas Ranger District, at the base of Hermit Peak and extending into the Pecos Wilderness.

Cause:  Multiple spot fires that spread outside the boundary of a prescribed burn

Size:  540 acres                              Percent Contained:  10%

Resources:  4 hotshot crews, 1 Type 2 IA crew, 8 engines, 1 Type 1 helicopter, 1 Type 2 helicopter, 1 Type 3 helicopter, 1 Rapid Extraction Module, and 1 Tactical Water Tender. Personnel total is 163 firefighters.

Fire Behavior and Fuels:  The Hermits Peak Fire is actively burning in dense, overgrown mixed conifer.

Values at risk: Gallinas Municipal Watershed and private inholdings.

Smoke: Smoke from the Hermits Peak Fire may be visible from Gallinas, El Porvenir, San Pablo, Mineral Hill, San Geronimo, Gascon, Pendaries, Rociada, Mora, Ledoux, Las Vegas and along the I-25 corridor. Smoke-sensitive individuals and people with respiratory problems or heart disease are encouraged to take precautionary measures.

Safety: The health and safety of firefighters and the public are always the first priority. Information on air quality and protecting your health can be found online at the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) Environmental Public Health Tracking (EPHT) website. The Forest Stewards Guild offers a HEPA Filter Loan Program that are available on a first come/first served basis. Additional information on air filters and the HEPA loan program is posted at http://www.santafefireshed.org/hepa-filter-loan-program#smokeanchor3.

A Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) is in place over the fire. Unauthorized use of unmanned aircraft (also known as “drones”) in a fire area endangers the lives of pilots and firefighters and is strictly forbidden. Never fly unmanned aircraft over or near a wildfire whether there is a TFR (Temporary Flight Restriction) in effect or not. Visit https://www.nifc.gov/drones and Know Before You Go for more information on drones and wildfires.

Ready, Set, Go: Fire behavior can change at any time, as we have seen with the Hermits Peak Fire, requiring firefighters and residents to be on heightened alert to respond to these emergencies. The Ready, Set, Go! Program works in collaboration with New Mexico’s Living with Fire and other existing community wildland fire education efforts to help residents prepare for a wildfire emergency.  For more information on wildfire prevention and how you can prepare for wildfires, visit www.wildlandfirersg.org, and the Ready, Set, Go New Mexico or the New Mexico Fire Information website at https://nmfireinfo.com/.   
Fire updates will be posted on Inciweb, the New Mexico Fire Information website and on the Santa Fe National Forest Facebook and Twitter pages. For more information, contact the Hermits Peak Fire information line at 505-663-6334 from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm.