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.

San Miguel County News Release
Calf Canyon/ Hermits Peak Fire

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 over the southern portion of the Hermits Peak-Calf Canyon burn scar is expected.

* WHERE...A portion of northeast New Mexico, including the following county, San Miguel.

* WHEN...Until 315 PM MDT.

* IMPACTS...Rises in small streams and normally dry arroyos. Dangerous flows over low-water crossings.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...

• At 1208 PM MDT, Doppler radar indicated heavy rain due to slow moving showers. This will cause arroyo and small stream flooding. Between 0.25 and 0.5 inches of rain have fallen.
• This includes the following streams and drainages... Cabo Lucero Creek, Gallinas Creek, Into Tecolote Creek, into Gallinas River, Upper Tecolote Creek, Tecolote Creek and Bull Creek. Additional rainfall amounts up to 0.25 inches are expected over the area. This additional rain will result in minor flooding.

Some locations that will experience flooding include... 

• Mineral Hill.
• This includes the following highways... State Road 283 between Mile Markers 11 and 12...and near Mile Marker 14.  

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

 Heavy Rains Continue to Delay Suppression Repair Activities and Cause Flooding

  
 Acres: 341,73
 Containment: 98%
 Total personnel: 445
 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: The National Weather Service continues to issue Flash Flood Watch’s/Warnings/Advisory’s for the Hermits Peak and Calf Canyon burn scar for Mora, San Miguel and Taos County caused by excessive rainfall and saturated soils. Roads have been washed out, causing closures and delays, while creeks, washes, and rivers overflow. We would like to remind residents of Mora and San Miguel Counties to please stay up to date on current road conditions and predicted weather. For current road conditions visit - https://nmroads.com/ for current weather visit – www.weather.gov/abq

 
Operations: Suppression repair efforts which consist of chipping, fence repair, naturalization of control lines, removal of hazard trees and soil stabilization continues as weather allows across the fire area.  Near Chacon, crews and equipment continue chipping and grading activities on private property while other resources assist Mora and San Miguel Counties with emergency cleanup operations and road closures as flooding continues to damage roadways.   

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.  
 
Weather: Position of the monsoonal high pressure will lead to a continued decrease in storm coverage today. Initiation is expected over the high terrain in the late morning and early afternoon. Steering flow will allow the storms to be pulled west, storms will still be plagued by slow and erratic motion.  This will continue the threat of locally heavy rainfall and subsequent flash flooding. 
 
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/ Mora County News Release 
Calf Canyon/ Hermits Peak Fire

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... Excessive  runoff  may  result  in  flooding  of  rivers,  creeks,  streams,  and  other  low-lying and flood-prone locations particularly within and downstream of recent burn scars. Low-water crossings may be flooded. Storm drains and ditches may become clogged with debris. 

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS... -  Another  round  of  slow-moving  showers  and  thunderstorms  are  expected  this  afternoon  and  evening  over  recent burn scars. Rainfall amounts may exceed one inch in a short amount of time. Given recent rainfall and flooding, rainfall today could cause significant flash flooding impacts within and downstream of the burn scars.

- 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. 

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.