Firefighters are mending fences, roads, and relationships

July 20, 2022 – Hermits Peak and Calf Canyon Fire Update

 

Acres: 341,735| Containment: 93% | Total personnel: 667|
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: Working hand in hand with private landowners, fire crews are fixing fences, repairing roads, seeding, chipping, and removing vegetation with great perseverance and fortitude. A break in the weather over the past two days has allowed firefighters to move further into the fire perimeter and make progress in areas previously impacted by the rain. 

Operations: Firefighters continue to spread native seeds and repair cut fences in Gallinas Canyon along Forest Road 65. Heavy equipment operators are using graders to improve Forest Road 83 heading north, while other crews are repairing fences in this area as well. Additional heavy equipment has been ordered to aid in dozer line repairs near Apache Canyon. Crews are persistently working on the Hamilton Mesa Trail to remove visual evidence of suppression activities in the Pecos Wilderness. Firefighters are chipping, lopping, and scattering vegetation near Elk Mountain to help naturalize the area. Near Grass Mountain, crews are scouting to form a plan to bring heavy equipment into this area. Firefighters are moving north from Martinez Pond, completing fence repairs and chipping vegetation. Crews are diligently working along the Pot Creek corridor and getting closer to completion for the upcoming hauling operation. Firefighters are repairing the dozer line near Sardinas Canyon with plans to move around to the northeast side to complete these repairs. Firefighters are also assessing the area near Angel Fire to determine what work remains. A grader working along Highway 120 is repairing the northeast dozer line. Field Observers are scouting and collecting information from personal observations across the fire area and providing this information back to fire managers. Crews and heavy equipment continue to work with private landowners in Ledoux and Chacon as more repair requests are received.

Closures and Restrictions: Area closures remain in effect for both the Santa Fe and Carson National Forests. These closures are in place for ongoing wildfire suppression repair operations, and to protect public health and safety in the event of debris flow and flash flooding. The wildfire suppression repair operations include, but are not limited to, road repair and stabilization, heavy equipment use, and fire line repair efforts. For the latest information about the Hermits Peak and Calf Canyon Fires closure orders for both the Santa Fe and Carson National Forests, please see the links to each forest’s website below. Information related to fire restrictions across public and private land can be found at: https://nmfireinfo.com/fire-restrictions/.

Weather: Clouds will increase this afternoon after a mostly clear morning. A few showers and thunderstorms will develop around midday and become more numerous through the afternoon. Lightning, heavy rain, small hail, and localized flooding are the primary hazards associated with these storms. High temperatures will range from the upper 60s in the higher terrain to the upper 80s in the lowest valleys. Scattered thunderstorms will be possible again on Thursday with similar temperature trends.

Fire Flooding and Recovery Resources: Disaster Assistance Resources: https://www.nmdhsem.org/2022-wildfires/| After Wildfire New Mexico Guide: https://www.afterwildfirenm.org/| Hermits Peak and Calf Canyon Fires Burned Area Emergency Response: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8104/

For questions or concerns related to flooding, please call the New Mexico State Emergency Operations Center at 1-800-432-2080. For federal disaster assistance, please call the FEMA Helpline at 1-800-621-3362.

Private Land Suppression Repair Survey (English and Spanish): https://www.tinyurl.com/suppressionrepair

Fire Information: Office Hours: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM | Phone: 505-356-2636| Email: 2022.hermitspeak@firenet.gov

Online Fire Information Resources: inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8069/ | https://www.facebook.com/santafeNF/| nmfireinfo.com |Santa Fe National Forest Twitter | tinyurl.com/HermitsYouTube | Santa Fe National Forest | Carson National Forest

Hermits Peak Calf Canyon Morning Video Update for July 18

Operations Update video for August 15th, 2022 is now available on Facebook and YouTube.

Break in Monsoon Over the Weekend 
  
 Acres: 341,73
 Containment: 98%
 Total personnel: 488
 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: We would like to remind residents who need suppression repair on their private property to complete the Private Land Suppression Repair Survey.  Please fill out one survey per property/parcel number. If you are looking for a status on the assessment or repair, please call 720-417-8048 for assistance in English, or 505-398-3889 for assistance in Spanish.  If you submit multiple repair surveys for the same property, it slows the process of   verifying assessments and repairs that have been completed.

Operations:    Over the weekend drier weather over the fire area allowed for safe access for firefighters and heavy equipment to reengage and continue suppression assessments   and repairs.  Incident personnel continued to support work on removing debris, mud and rocks off roads damaged by flooding. Fire officials would like to remind residents and visitors to slow down while driving on roads in and around the fire area and to obey all traffic warnings.
 
Closures and Restrictions: The Santa Fe National Forest has reduced the fire closure area opening additional access to the Pecos Wilderness. To view the new closure order and map visit  Santa Fe - Alerts & Notices (usda.gov). Monsoon weather and completion of suppression repair activities play a part in the decision to lift closure orders and the safety of the public, firefighter, and incident support personnel is always our first priority.  
 
Weather: High pressure will weaken and allow more favorable monsoonal flow of moisture into the region. Expect scattered showers and thunderstorms on Tuesday, with a significant increase in storms possible Thursday and Friday. Daily showers and storms will increase the risk for flash flooding with the greatest risk from Tuesday afternoon through at least Thursday. The greatest risk will be from Tuesday afternoon through at least Thursday. Afternoon temperatures will be cooling with increased relative humidity. 
 
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

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...A portion of north central New Mexico, including the following areas, East Slopes Sangre de Cristo Mountains,  and Southern Sangre de Cristo Mountains. 

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

*  IMPACTS...Excessive  runoff  may  result  in  flooding  of  rivers,  creeks,  streams,  and  other  low-lying and flood-prone locations, particularly within and downstream of the Hermits Peak-Calf Canyon wildfire burn scar. Low-water crossings may be flooded. Storm drains and ditches may become clogged with debris.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - Rounds of slow-moving showers and thunderstorms are expected this afternoon and evening over the Hermits Peak-Calf Canyon wildfire burn scar. Given the vulnerability of this area, rainfall today could cause flash flooding impacts within and downstream of the burn scar.  - http://www.weather.gov/abq/EmergencyPrepFlood

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.

  Weather Update video for August 12th, 2022 is now available on Facebook and YouTube.

Operations Update video for August 12th, 2022 is now available on Facebook and YouTube.

 Firefighters and Equipment Operators Working Along Roadways   

  
 Acres: 341,73
 Containment: 98%
 Total personnel: 459
 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: Fire officials ask all residents and visitors to use caution while driving on roads around the fire area, many roads have been damaged from rain run-off, and obey all traffic warnings. Firefighters and equipment operations continue to work on removing debris, mud, and rocks off roads while trucks move heavy equipment and culverts in areas where flooding has occurred. Log trucks have started moving logs from Osha Pass to Angel Fire along Forest Road 76 and NM 434.  Remain alert and drive cautiously for your safety and those working to clear the roadways.  

Operations: After several days of heavy rain, crews continue to identify and assess repairs needed to reduce evidence of suppression activities on the landscape. Crews are almost done repairing fence and cleaning up roadways near Lower Rociada. Weather conditions have allowed for seeding operations and repair activities south of Angostura along the fire’s perimeter and culvert installation where needed northwest of Bear Mountain. 
 
Closures and Restrictions: The Santa Fe National Forest has reduced the fire closure area opening additional access to the Pecos Wilderness. To view the new closure order and map visit  Santa Fe - Alerts & Notices (usda.gov). Monsoon weather and completion of suppression repair activities play a part in the decision to lift closure orders and the safety of the public, firefighter, and incident support personnel is always our first priority.  
 
Weather: High pressure will begin to migrate from the Four Corners into the Great Plains, further shutting off access to the monsoonal plume. This will reduce our thunderstorm coverage in the afternoon to isolated across the southern Sangre de Cristos and their adjacent highlands. Any storms that do develop will be plagued by slow storm motion, trending in a west-northwest to northwest direction. Temperatures will be slightly warmer. 
 
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

Weather Update video for August 11th, 2022 is now available on Facebook and YouTube.

Weather Update video for August 10th, 2022 is now available on Facebook and YouTube.