SANTA FE, NM – Aug. 9, 2022 – The Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF) today reduced the size of the closure area for the Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon Fire to allow for increased public access in the high country of the Pecos Wilderness. The updated closure order, effective at 8 a.m. today, opens an additional 11,517 acres at higher elevations within the Pecos Wilderness.
The Carson National Forest is also reopening portions of the Camino Real Ranger District that have been closed due to fire suppression and suppression repair, including the West Fork Santa Barbara Trail #25, which continues south and intersects with the Skyline Trail #251, the longest trail in the Pecos Wilderness.
Although the Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon Fire is 94% contained, suppression repair activities are ongoing. The closure order will remain in place to protect public health and safety during suppression repair and in the event of potential post-fire impacts, including debris flow and flash flooding. Visitors should maintain situational awareness at all times, especially during the monsoon season when sudden thunderstorms and lightning bring added risk to outdoor activities.
The SFNF will continue to monitor the closure area and reopen areas to public access for recreation, fuelwood and other uses when it is safe to do so.
For now, the Pecos Canyon and Gallinas Canyon corridors remain closed to hiking and camping under the updated order. There is no picnic or trailhead access within Pecos Canyon, and the following recreation sites remain closed under today’s order:

• Jacks Creek, Iron Gate, Panchuela, Cowles, Holy Ghost, Field Tract, El Porvenir and EV Long Campgrounds
• Davis Willow and Dalton Dispersed Campgrounds
• Dalton, Oak Flats and Baker Flats Picnic Sites

The closure order and map are posted on the SFNF website, and copies are available at SFNF headquarters and the Pecos and Las Vegas Ranger Stations. For additional information, please contact the Pecos office at 505-757-6121 or the Las Vegas office at 505-425-3534. All current closure orders are posted on the Alerts and Notices page of the website.

Las Vegas/ Mora –The National Weather Service in Albuquerque has issued Flood Watch for The Hermits Peak-Calf Canyon burn scar for Mora County and San Miguel County in northeastern New Mexico.

FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM NOON MDT TODAY THROUGH THIS EVENING... 

* WHAT...Flash flooding caused by excessive rainfall is possible.

*  WHERE...Portions  of  central,  north  central,  and  west  central  New  Mexico, including the following  areas,  in  central New Mexico, San Agustin Plains and Adjacent Lowlands and South-Central Mountains. In north central New  Mexico,  East  Slopes  Sangre  de  Cristo  Mountains,  Jemez  Mountains  and  Southern  Sangre  de  Cristo  Mountains. In west central New Mexico, Southwest Mountains. 

* WHEN...From Noon MDT today through this evening. 

* IMPACTS...Flooding may occur in recent burn scars, poor drainage and urban areas. 

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - Recent rains have saturated the soil in most of the burn scars, where flash flooding is most likely. 

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood Be sure to stay up to date with information from local authorities. Heavy rainfall could trigger flash flooding of  low-lying  areas,  urbanized  street  flooding,  and  debris  flows  in  and  near  recent  wildfire  burn  scars.  Significant runoff may cause flooding of creeks and rivers.

Las Vegas – The National Weather Service in Albuquerque has issued a Flood Advisory for portions of north central and northeast New Mexico; this includes northern parts of the Hermits Peak Calf Canyon burn scar.* WHAT… Arroyo and small stream flooding caused by excessive rainfall is expected.
 
 * WHERE… Portions of north central and northeast New Mexico, including the following counties, in north central New Mexico, Rio Arriba and Santa Fe. In northeast New Mexico, Mora and San Miguel.
 
 * WHEN... Until 700 PM MDT.
 
 * IMPACTS... Minor flooding in low-lying and poor drainage areas.
 
 * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...
 
 At 349 PM MDT, Doppler radar indicated heavy rain due to earlier slow-moving thunderstorms. This will cause arroyo and small stream flooding. Between 0.75 and 2 inches of rain are estimated to have fallen over the advisory area.
Some locations that will experience flooding include...

• Pecos
• Cowles 
• Tererro

This includes the following recreation areas...

• Field Tract Campground
• Holy Ghost Campground
• Iron Gate Campground
• Jacks Creek Campground
• Panchuela Campground
• Willow Creek Campground
• Bert Clancy Wildlife Area
• Mora River Picnic Area 
• Lisboa Springs Fish Hatchery

This includes the following highways...

• State Road 63 between Mile Markers 6 and 25.

San Miguel County – The National Weather Service in Albuquerque has issued a Flash Flood Warning for The Hermits Peak and Calf Canyon Burn Scar in Northwestern San Miguel County in northeastern New Mexico.

* Until 800 PM MDT.

* At 204 PM MDT, Doppler radar indicated slow-moving thunderstorms expanding and producing heavy rain over the southern portions of the Hermits Peak-Calf Canyon wildfire Burn Scar. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly.

Excessive rainfall over the burn scar will impact the Tecolote Creek and Gallinas River drainage areas including

• Cabo Lucero Creek
• Canon Mesteno
• Ojitos Frios Creek
• Tecolote Creek
• Porvenir Canyon
• Arroyo
• Pecos
• Agua Zarca
• Vegosa Creek

Any possible debris flows can consist of torrents of water, rock, mud, ash, burned vegetation and other loose materials.

HAZARD... Strong and slow-moving thunderstorms producing heavy rainfall in and around the Hermits Peak and Calf Canyon Burn Scar. 

IMPACT... Excessive runoff and life-threatening flash flooding of areas in and around the Hermits Peak and Calf Canyon Burn Scar. 

 * Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...

• Las Vegas
• El Porvenir
• Montezuma
• Storrie Lake State Park
• Mineral Hill, Gallinas
• San Geronimo
• San Pablo
• Ojitos Frios

This includes the following highways...

• State Road 283 between Mile Markers 1 and 12...and near Mile Marker 14
• State Road 65 between Mile Markers 1 and 14 
• State Road 518 between Mile Markers 1 and 9
• Interstate 25 between Mile Markers 343 and 349

The National Weather Service in Albuquerque has issued a Flash Flood Warning for The Hermits Peak Calf Canyon Burn Scar in South Central Taos County in north central New Mexico,  Western Mora County in northeastern New Mexico and Northwestern San Miguel County in northeastern New Mexico.

* Until 530 PM MDT. 

At 1139 AM MDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing heavy rain over the northwestern Hermits Peak Calf Canyon Burn Scar. Between 0.5 and 0.75 inches of rain have fallen. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly. Excessive rainfall over the burn scar will impact the headwaters of the Rio la Casa that flows just south of the community of Cleveland and into the Mora River. Any debris flows can consist of large torrents of water, rock, mud, ash, burned vegetation and other loose materials.

HAZARD...Thunderstorms producing heavy rainfall over the northwestern part of the Hermits Peak-Calf Canyon wildfire burn scar.

IMPACT...Excessive  runoff  and  life-threatening  flash  flooding  and  possible  debris  flows  over  areas  in  and  around the Hermits Peak Calf Canyon Burn Scar.*
Some  locations  that  will  experience  flash  flooding  include... 

• Mora
• Ledoux
• Morphy  Lake  State  Park
• Cleveland
• Tierra Monte
• La Cueva
• Holman
• Golondrinas
• El Turquillo
• San Ignacio
• Guadalupita. 

This includes the following recreation areas...

• Morphy Lake State Park. 

*The following highways may be impacted:

• State Road 518 between Mile Markers 9 and 47. 
• State Road 434 between Mile Markers 0 and 14.  

Please stay up to date by listening to local radio and television for further information. Local officials may call for evacuations in specific areas with the greatest risk. 

Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon Video Update can be viewed here: 
 
Video Update August 5, 2022 on Facebook

Video Update August 8, 2022 on YouTube

Southwest IMT Team 3 Assumes Command of the Calf Canyon Fire
 
 Acres: 341,73
 Containment: 98%
 Total personnel: 395
 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: 12 miles NW of Las Vegas, NM
 Fuels: Heavy mixed conifer, ponderosa pine, brush, and grass

Highlights: Southwest Incident Management Team 3 led by Lance Elmore assumed command of the Calf Canyon Fire Sunday, August 7, 2022, at 6:00 pm. 
 
Operations: Flash flood warnings continue to be issued daily as thunderstorms produce heavy rain over the fire area.  Wet soils will hinder repair operations and cause additional damage.  Crews and equipment being used are continually assessing the soil conditions to minimize damage and if necessary, working at alternate locations where soil conditions are more favorable or to areas where the potential for flooding is reduced.  Team 3 is focused on assessing suppression repair needs and implementing repair work, but the safety of firefighters, incident support personnel and the public are our number one priority.   

Closures and Restrictions: Closures continue to be evaluated with public and firefighter safety being the primary concern. Monsoon weather patterns and completion of suppression repair activities play a part in the decision to lift closure orders. Stay informed to changing conditions by accessing https://nmfireinfo.com/fire-restrictions/ or the respective forests’ websites listed below.

Weather: Clear morning skies yesterday allowed for initiation of storms over the high terrain in the late morning and early afternoon hours. Storms favored the high terrain, remaining stationary before increasing coverage eastward. High temperatures hit near normal while prevailing winds were primarily out of the south. High pressure will reform over the Four Corners today and a backdoor front will dip into the northeastern plains. This will help to inspire scattered to numerous thunderstorms over the burn are in the afternoon.  
 
Fire Flooding and Recovery Resources: 2022 Wildland Fires Resources Hotline | After Wildfire New Mexico Guide  |  Hermits Peak and Calf Canyon Fires Burned Area Emergency Response 

For questions or concerns related to flooding, please call the New Mexico State Emergency Operations Center at 1-800-432-2080. For federal disaster with fire or flood damage to your primary residence, please call the FEMA Helpline at 1-800-621-3362.  

Private Land Suppression Repair Survey(English and Spanish). Call 720-417-8048 for assistance in English, or 505-398-3889 for assistance in Spanish.  

Fire Information: Office Hours: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM | Phone: 505-356-2636 | Email: 2022.hermitspeak@firenet.gov 
 
Online Fire Information Resources: Inciweb | Santa Fe National Forest Facebook | nmfireinfo.com |Santa Fe National Forest Twitter | YouTube | Santa Fe National Forest| Carson National Forest

San Miguel County/ Mora County The National Weather Service in Albuquerque has issued a Flood Advisory for The Hermits Peak and Calf Canyon Burn Scar in San Miguel and Mora Counties until 3:45 PM MDT.

* IMPACTS...Minor flooding in low-lying and poor drainage areas. Rises in small streams and normally dry arroyos. Dangerous flows over low-water crossings. Water over roadways. Overflowing poor drainage areas.

At 11:43 AM MDT, Doppler radar indicated heavy rain due to thunderstorms over the headwaters of the Rito San Jose, Manuelitas Creek, Rito Cebolla, and Rio La Casa. This will cause arroyo and small stream flooding. Up to 0.2 inches of rain have fallen.

- Additional rainfall amounts up to 1.25 inches are expected over the area. The potential exists flash flooding to develop.

- Some locations that will experience flooding include Mora, Ledoux, Morphy Lake State Park, Cleveland, Tierra Monte, La Cueva, Holman, Gascon, Sapello, Chacon, South Carmen, Monte Aplanado, Luceros, Rainsville, Rociada, Manuelitas, Golondrinas, El Turquillo, San Ignacio in Guadalupe County and Guadalupita.

- This includes the following highways: State Road 94 between Mile Markers 1 and 18. State Road 266 between Mile Markers 0 and 6. State Road 276 between Mile Markers 0 and 5. State Road 518 between Mile Markers 9 and 47. State Road 434 between Mile Markers 0 and 14. State Road 283 near Mile Marker 13. State Road 105 between Mile Markers 0 and 9. State Road 121 between Mile Markers 0 and 8.

  

Flash Flood Warning 08/06/2022 until 1615 This Afternoon

The National Weather Service in Albuquerque has issued a

 

Flash Flood Warning for The Hermits Peak Calf Canyon Burn Scar

Southeastern Rio Arriba County in north central New Mexico

Northeastern Santa Fe County in north central New Mexico

Southeastern Taos County in north central New Mexico

Southwestern Colfax County in northeastern New Mexico

Western Mora County in northeastern New Mexico

Northwestern San Miguel County in northeastern New Mexico

 

Until 415 PM MDT.

 

At 1216 PM MDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing  heavy rain over the Hermits Peak Calf Canyon Burn Scar. Additional  rainfall amounts of 0.5 to 1.5 inches are possible in the warned  area. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly.

Excessive rainfall over the burn scar will impact Manuelitas Creek,  Sapello River, Rio San Jose, Santiago Creek, Rito Cebolla, Rio La  Casa, Vigil Creek, Coyote Creek, Mora River, and La Canada del  Carro. The debris flow can consist of rock, mud, vegetation and  other loose materials.

HAZARD Life threatening flash flooding. Thunderstorms  producing flash flooding in and around the Hermits  Peak Calf Canyon Burn Scar.

SOURCE:  Radar.

IMPACT: Life threatening flash flooding of areas in and around  the Hermits Peak Calf Canyon Burn Scar.

 

Some locations that will experience flash flooding include: Mora, Morphy Lake State Park, Cleveland, Ledoux, Gascon, Holman,  Tierra Monte, La Cueva, Chacon, Cowles, Coyote Creek State Park,  Black Lake, Monte Aplanado, South Carmen, Rociada, San Ignacio in Guadalupe County, Luceros, El Turquillo, Manuelitas and Rainsville.

This includes the following highways;

State Road 94 between Mile Markers 1 and 18.  

State Road 266 between Mile Markers 0 and 6.

State Road 105 between Mile Markers 0 and 9.

State Road 276 between Mile Markers 0 and 5.

State Road 518 between Mile Markers 14 and 47.

State Road 434 between Mile Markers 0 and 29.

State Road 283 near Mile Marker 13.

State Road 65 near Mile Marker 14.

State Road 63 between Mile Markers 21 and 25.

State Road 121 between Mile Markers 0 and 8.

FLASH FLOOD RADAR INDICATED

FLASH FLOOD DAMAGE THREAT: CONSIDERABLE

Instructions: Runoff from rainfall will cause elevated water levels within vulnerable drainages in and downstream of the HPCC fire burn area. Do not camp along streams and rivers. Remain alert when hiking in steep, narrow canyons. Know where you are relative to low spots and drainages.

Target Area:     

Colfax

Mora

Rio Arriba

San Miguel

Santa Fe

Taos

Flood Advisory
 
 Las Vegas – The National Weather Service in Albuquerque has issued a Flood Advisory for Portions of San Miguel County.
 
* WHAT… Arroyo and small stream flooding caused by excessive rainfall is expected.
* WHERE... A portion of northeast New Mexico, including the following county, San Miguel.
* WHEN... Until 345 PM MDT.* IMPACTS... Minor flooding in low-lying and poor drainage areas.
 
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...
 
 - At 204 PM MDT, Doppler radar indicated heavy rain due to thunderstorms moving slowly east along State Road 266 from near San Ignacio to Sapello. This will cause arroyo and small stream flooding. Up to 0.5 inches of rain have fallen.
 
 - Additional rainfall amounts up to 0.5 inches are expected over the area. This additional rain will result in minor flooding.
 
 - Some locations that will experience flooding include... Sapello, Manuelitas and San Ignacio in Guadalupe County.
 
 - This includes the following highways... State Road 518 between Mile Markers 9 and 16. State Road 94 between Mile Markers 1 and 7. State Road 266 between Mile Markers 0 and 6.