Cerro Pelado Fire Update 
Saturday, May 7, 2022

 

Hours: 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.  Phone: 505-312-4593    Email: 2022.CerroPelado@firenet.gov  
InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8075/  Twitter: https://twitter.com/SantafeNF

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/2022.Cerropeladofire

    Acreage: 34,671 acres Containment: 11% Personnel and Equipment: 837 total personnel; 38 engines, 6 Type 1 hand crews, 11 Type 2 hand crews, 5 Type 2 initial attack crews, 9 helicopters, 2 scooper planes, 10 dozers, 1 masticator, 2 ambulances, 1 rapid medical extraction unit and 15 water tenders. Air National Guard helicopters are on standby. Yesterday: Firefighters working along Highway 4 on the northeast side have completed thinning dense brush, trees, and made significant progress with tactical burns, making that corner of the fire secure. U.S. Department of Energy masticators continued to grind up burnable vegetation along Highway 4 west of the tactical burns. Highway 4 remains closed from mile marker 34 to mile marker 50. Crews continued patrol on the northwest corner of the fire. Handcrews secured the spot fire from Thursday on the west side of the fire and north of Meadow helicopter dip site. The spot has become part of the west burn perimeter. There was fireline constructed to connect the finger extending out of the fire on the southwest corner. Tactical firing was used to protect the old growth, by keeping fire intensity low. On the south side of the fire, further adjustments were made with dozers to straighten lines along Forest Road (FR) 270.  Fuels on the south side of the fire are sparse, and the only fire occurred in draws where there were some downed fuels to burn. The southwest corner of the fire had little movement, advancing only when drainages with timber had some fuel to consume. On the eastern side of the fire FR 289 will be considered a primary line as the fire continued to slowly burn through sparse fuels in the steep canyons. Most eastward movement was slow, with the only progression occurring in steep canyons. Fuels are sparse, with progression only in drainages and when winds align with those canyons. Operations noted there were no attempts to build fireline on the western perimeter by hand as the ground is extremely steep and would compromise firefighter safety. FR 289 has been prepped and plumbed with extensive hose lines. Fire operations had also indicated roads further east were being prepped as contingency lines. No new structural losses were reported. Super scooper planes continued to drop water from Cochiti Lake and secured Rabbit Mountain and Cochiti Mesa. Coordination continued between the Incident Team and the Pueblo of Jemez and the Pueblo of Cochiti to prepare routes, with some dozer lines being used to straighten the line as the fire slowly progresses southward. Safety and operations reported no significant firefighter injuries. AM Radio 1610 was designated to operate as a public service to give news of firefighting efforts. Today: Firefighters will continue to work along the perimeter of the fire along Highway 4 on the north, Forest Road (FR) 266 on the west, FR 270 on the south, and FR 289 on the east to improve firelines with thinning and chipping. Tactical firing will be used to improve firelines along the northeast corner and eastern perimeter of the fire, along the Alamo Trail from Highway 4 to FR 289. Masticators from the U.S. Department of Energy will continue to grind vegetation along Highway 4. Firefighters fully plumbed the northeast and eastern perimeter and expect to do tactical burning. Firefighters will also coordinate with the National Park Service in this area for structure protection for Bandelier National Monument and Valles Caldera National Preserve. Structure protection has continued in this area and the structural group has been moving through all areas with homes and structures. Firefighters will continue coordination with the Pueblo of Cochiti and are still assessing and providing protection for structures in the Cochiti Lake area. Containment and mop up of the 30 acre spot fire on the southwest part of the fire will continue today. Weather and Fire Behavior: Today’s weather features a Red Flag Warning due to gusty winds up to 35 mph and low relative humidity in the single digits. Temperatures will be in the mid-70s. Weather predictions are expecting near historic levels of wind over the next 4 days.  Expect flanking fire on the north, with active fire near Kitty Lake.  The fire is expected to continue backing on the west side of the fire towards containment lines on FR266.  As the fire moves southeast and east, there is potential for rapid fire spread especially if winds align with drainages. In the northeast, winds may align with canyons and there is potential for high spread rates. The east side of the fire has the greatest potential for fire growth up to 5 miles if it exceeds suppression action. Fire spread potential for the south side is expected to slow with backing fire, and is moving to containment lines. Evacuations, Shelter Areas: The communities of Cochiti Mesa and the Peralta Canyon area, including Cox Ranch, remain under a “Go” evacuation status. The Sandoval County Fire Department and Emergency Management will provide updated information on evacuations, as needed. Evacuations for Sierra de Los Pinos, Valles Caldera National Preserve remain in “Set” mode, meaning being ready to leave at a moment’s notice. If conditions change and the fire threatens the community again, these areas could return to “Go.”  Los Alamos County, Jemez Springs, La Cueva and Cochiti Lake area remain in “Ready” status. Air quality: Information on air quality is at New Mexico Department of Health Environmental Public Health Tracking, https://nmtracking.org./fire. An interactive smoke map at https://fire.airnow.gov/ allows you to zoom into your area to see the latest smoke conditions.  Closures: Highway 4 remains closed to all traffic from mile marker 34 to mile marker 50 (at the junction of Hwy 4 and 501) due to fire activity. Fire equipment and firefighters will be working along Highway 4 and accessing the fire, especially at intersections with FR 10 and FR 280. Heavy traffic impedes firefighting efforts and endangers firefighter safety. The most updated road closure information can be found here: https://www.nmroads.com/mapIndex.html   The Santa Fe National Forest has issued a closure order for the Cerro Pelado fire area and a second closure order for the Cerro Pelado Firefighter Camp along FR 376. The purpose of both orders is to protect public health and safety due to extreme fire danger in the Restricted Area. Bandelier National Monument and Valles Caldera National Preserve remain closed due to fire activity until further notice.  Fire Restrictions: Stage II Fire Restrictions are in effect for the Santa Fe National Forest, which prohibits all campfires and other hazardous activities. Due to ongoing fire threats, Sandoval County will not issue burn permits.  Temporary Flight Restriction: There is a flight restriction on the area over the fire (10 nautical miles southwest of Los Alamos, NOTAM 2/2366). https://tfr.faa.gov/save_pages/detail_2_6919.html. Drones over the fire are also prohibited. 

 Cerro Pelado Fire Update  

Friday, May 6, 2022 

  

Hours: 8 am-8 pm Phone: 505-312-4593   Email: 2022.CerroPelado@firenet.gov   
InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8075/  Twitter: https://twitter.com/SantafeNF 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/2022.Cerropeladofire 

Team transition has occurred:  The Great Basin Team 1 Incident Management Team has taken command of the Cerro Pelado Fire at 6:00 a.m. today. 

Public Meeting:  Cerro Pelado Fire Community Meeting in Los Alamos in person and via Zoom today, May 6 @ 5:30 pm at Los Alamos High School, Griffith Gym, 1300 Diamond Drive, Los Alamos, NM, Zoom Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88006470074. 

Acreage: 32,121 acres Containment: 13%  

Personnel and Equipment: 807 total personnel; 38 engines, 5 Type 1 hand crews, 11 Type 2 hand crews, 5 Type 2 initial attack crews, 7 helicopters, 2 scooper planes, 10 dozers, 1 masticator, 2 ambulances, 1 rapid medical extraction unit and 14 water tenders. Air National Guard helicopters are on standby. 

Yesterday: Firefighters working along Highway 4 on the northwest side of the fire toward the northeast by Cox Ranch have completed thinning dense brush and trees. U.S. Department of Energy masticators continued to grind up burnable vegetation along Highway 4, which remained closed from mile marker 30 to mile marker 59. The fire remained south of the highway. Crews continued mop up and patrol on the northwest side of the fire, to the southwest corner and east to Paliza Canyon. A spot fire on the west side of the fire and south of Meadow helicopter dip site received an immediate response with 6 air tankers, 2 hand crews and numerous engines. There were approximately 30 additional spots which were extinguished immediately.  Large and Very Large Air Tankers applied retardant along the east side of the fire along the Alamo Trail to assist with keeping the fire in check and in the bottom of the canyon. The structural group continued evaluating and strengthening protection around homes, using tactical fire where appropriate. No new structural losses were reported. Super scooper planes scooped water from Cochiti Lake and dropped it on Rabbit Mountain and Cochiti Mesa which kept the fire south of Highway 4. Coordination between the Incident Team and the Pueblo of Jemez and the Pueblo of Cochiti made further refinements in control lines on the south side of the fire, straightening out some line and eliminating some curves. Safety and Operations reported no firefighter injuries. 

Today: Firefighters will continue to work along the perimeter of the fire along Highway 4 on the north, Forest Road (FR) 266 on the west, FR 270 on the south, and FR 289 on the east to improve firelines with thinning and chipping. Tactical fires were used to improve firelines along the northeast corner of the fire, along the Alamo Trail from Highway 4 to FR 289. Masticators from the U.S. Department of Energy will continue to grind vegetation along Highway 4. Firefighters fully plumbed the northeast perimeter. Firefighters will also coordinate with the National Park Service in this area for structure protection for Bandelier National Monument and Valles Caldera National Preserve. Structure protection has continued in this area. Firefighters will continue coordination with the Pueblo of Cochiti and are still assessing and providing protection for structures in the Cochiti Lake area. Containment and mop up of the 20-acre spot fire on the southwest part of the fire will continue today. 

Weather and Fire Behavior: Temperatures will be in the mid-70s today. Winds will be west/northwest at 12 mph with gusts to 25, as the fire continues backing towards Highway 4. On the west, fire is expected to continue moving to the south across Oaks Mesa with the most activity expected in the southwest. As the fire moves southeast, it is expected to make slow progress through sparse vegetation and rock washes above the Pueblo of Cochiti, but continue to move through thin strips of mixed conifer in canyon bottoms. In the northeast, terrain-influenced winds will continue to support fire spread to the east and north. If it crosses Highway 4, it will rapidly spread in heavy grasses of the Valles Caldera National Preserve. Ground forces should expect very active fire behavior with spotting distances up to ½ mile.  

Evacuations, Shelter Areas: The communities of Cochiti Mesa and the Peralta Canyon area, including Cox Ranch, remain under a “Go” evacuation status. The Sandoval County Fire Department and Emergency Management will provide updated information on evacuations, as needed. Evacuations for Sierra de Los Pinos remain in “Set” mode, meaning being ready to leave at a moment’s notice. If conditions change and the fire threatens the community again, these areas could return to “Go.”  Los Alamos County and Cochiti Lake area remain in “Ready” status. 

Air quality: Information on air quality is at New Mexico Department of Health Environmental Public Health Tracking, https://nmtracking.org./fire. An interactive smoke map at https://fire.airnow.gov/ allows you to zoom into your area to see the latest smoke conditions.  

Closures: Highway 4 remains closed to all traffic from mile marker 30, 14 miles east of Sierra De los Pinos to mile marker 50, 14 miles west of White Rock due to fire activity. Highway 4 is also closed to non-local traffic at mile marker 35 (2 miles east of Sierra De los Pinos). Motorists should drive slowly along the highway with headlights on. Fire equipment and firefighters will be traveling along Highway 4 and accessing the fire, especially at intersections with FR 10 and FR 280. Heavy traffic impedes firefighting efforts and endangers firefighter safety. The most updated road closure information can be found here: https://www.nmroads.com/mapIndex.html   

The Santa Fe National Forest has issued a closure order for the Cerro Pelado fire area and a second closure order for the Cerro Pelado Firefighter Camp along FR 376. The purpose of both orders is to protect public health and safety due to extreme fire danger in the Restricted Area. Bandelier National Monument and Valles Caldera National Preserve remain closed due to fire activity until further notice.  

 

Fire Restrictions: Stage II Fire Restrictions are in effect for the Santa Fe National Forest, which prohibits all campfires and other hazardous activities. Due to ongoing fire threats, Sandoval County will not issue burn permits.  

 

Temporary Flight Restriction: There is a flight restriction on the area over the fire (10 nautical miles southwest of Los Alamos, NOTAM 2/2366). https://tfr.faa.gov/save_pages/detail_2_6919.html. Drones over the fire are also prohibited.   

For air quality details, visit: https://outlooks.airfire.org/outlook/736b0fb8

Air quality alert through noon Saturday.
AIR QUALITY ALERT https://forecast.weather.gov/product.php?site=NWS&issuedby=abq&product=AQA&glossary=0
Continued GOOD air quality to the west of the fire on down to Albuquerque. Santa Fe area will likely see overall MODERATE air quality today with potential periods of USG in areas closest to the fire. Los Alamos and Santa Clara areas should expect overall Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (USG) and will likely start out the day with GOOD air quality but start to see more smoke impacts as the day goes on with potential for periods into UNHEALTHY. White Rock is expected to be overall USG with periods of UNHEALTHY. Cochiti and Santa Domingo are expected to have periodsinto UNHEALTHY during the early morning and night time hours with smoke clearing during the day.

  

 Cerro Pelado Fire Update Thursday, May 5, 2022 
 

Hours: 8 am-8 pm Phone: 505-312-4593 Email: 2022.CerroPelado@firenet.gov InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8075/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/SantafeNF 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/2022.Cerropeladofire 

Team transition: This will be the last operational day with the Southern Area Red Team Incident Management Team. The Great Basin Incident Management Team will shadow operations today and assume command of the Cerro Pelado Fire at 6:00 a.m.on Friday. 

Acreage: 29,368 acres Containment: 13% 

Personnel and Equipment: 751 total personnel; 34 engines, 4 Type 1 hand crews, 11 Type 2 hand crews, 5 Type 2 initial attack crews, 6 helicopters, 2 scooper planes, 10 dozers, 1 masticators, 2 ambulances, 1 rapid medical extraction unit and 14 water tenders. 

Yesterday: Firefighters were able to make progress due to favorable weather conditions. Firefighters worked along Highway 4 on the northwest side of the fire toward the northeast by Cox Ranch, thinning dense brush and trees, and preparing to chip removed vegetation. U.S. Department of Energy masticators continued to grind up burnable vegetation along the highway, which remained closed from mile marker 27 to mile marker 59. The fire remained south of the highway. An area near the northwest corner of the fire rekindled and was visible from the Sierra De Los Pinos community, but it was well within the perimeter of the fire and did not threaten structures. Crews continued mop up and patrol on the northwest side of the fire, to the southwest corner and east to Paliza Canyon. Hand crews continued strategic firing operations on the southwest side of the fire to keep fire intensity low near old growth timber. Large and Very Large Air Tankers applied retardant along the east side of the fire along the Alamo Trail to assist with keeping the fire in check and in the bottom of the canyon. Helicopter bucket drops kept a slopover in place. 

The structural group continued evaluating and strengthening protection around homes, again with no new structural losses. Super scooper planes scooped water from Cochiti Lake and dropped it on Rabbit Mountain and Cochiti Mesa which kept the fire south of Highway 4. Coordination between the Incident Team and the Pueblo of Jemez and the Pueblo of Cochiti continued to identify strategies for firefighting if the fire moves south. The south side of the fire now has connecting roads and dozer lines, with most of the line constructed and in place. 

Today: Firefighters will continue to work along the perimeter of the fire along Highway 4 on the north, Forest Road (FR) 266 on the west, FR 270 on the south, and FR 289 on the east to improve firelines with thinning and chipping. A priority is to improve firelines along the northeast corner of the fire, along the Alamo Trail from Highway 4 to FR 289. Tactical burning with helicopters in the northeast corner of the fire will consume fuels to further secure the firelines. Masticators from the U.S. Department of Energy will continue grinding vegetation along Highway 4. Firefighters will continue to install hoses in this area and expect to be nearly fully plumbed. Firefighters will also coordinate with the National Park Service in this area for structure protection for Bandelier National Monument and Valles Caldera National Preserve. Structure protection will also continue in this area, evaluating options for protection. Firefighters will continue coordination with the Pueblo of Cochiti and are still assessing and providing protection for structures in the Cochiti Lake area. 

Weather and Fire Behavior: Temperatures will be in the upper 60s today. Winds will be westerly at 10 mph with gusts to 20, with the fire continuing with backing towards Highway 4. Weather and fuel conditions will continue to support 

active fire behavior across the eastern half of the incident. On the west, fire is expected to continue moving to the south across Oaks Mesa. As the fire moves southeast, a reduction in burnable vegetation will help slow growth in that direction. On the southwest, the fire should hang up when it reaches rock washes and sparse vegetation above the Pueblo of Cochiti, but continue to move through thin strips of mixed conifer in canyon bottoms. In the northeast, winds will continue to support fire spread to the east and north. If it crosses Highway 4, it will rapidly spread in heavy grasses of the Valles Caldera National Preserve. Ground forces should expect very active fire behavior with spotting distances up to ½ mile. 

Evacuations, Shelter Areas: The communities of Cochiti Mesa and the Peralta Canyon area, including Cox Ranch, remain under a “Go” evacuation status. The Sandoval County Fire Department and Emergency Management will provide updated information on evacuations, as needed. Evacuations for Sierra de Los Pinos remain in “Set” mode, meaning being ready to leave at a moment’s notice. If conditions change and the fire threatens the community again, these areas could return to “Go.” Los Alamos County and Cochiti Lake area remains in “Ready” status. 

Air quality: Information on air quality is at New Mexico Department of Health Environmental Public Health Tracking, https://nmtracking.org./fire. An interactive smoke map at https://fire.airnow.gov/ allows you to zoom into your area to see the latest smoke conditions. 

Closures: Highway 4 remains closed to all traffic from mile marker 47, 14 miles east of Sierra De los Pinos to mile marker 50, 14 miles west of White Rock due to fire activity. Highway 4 is also closed to non-local traffic at mile marker 35 (2 miles east of Sierra De los Pinos). Motorists should drive slowly along the highway with headlights on. Fire equipment and firefighters will be traveling along Highway 4 and accessing the fire, especially at intersections with FR 10 and FR 280. Heavy traffic impedes firefighting efforts and endangers firefighter safety. The most updated road closure information can be found here: https://www.nmroads.com/mapIndex.html 

The Santa Fe National Forest issued Closure Order Number 10-506 (www.fs.usda.gov/detail/santafe/alerts-notices/?cid=stelprd3802009), restricting public access to the area around the fire. Specifically, all Forest Service lands within an area roughly defined by NM Highway 4 on the west, Valles Caldera National Preserve on the north, Bandelier National Monument on the east, and Zia Pueblo and Santo Domingo Pueblo on the south are closed to the public. The Forest also issued Closure Order Number 10-507 for the Cerro Pelado Firefighter Camp along FR 376. The purpose of both orders is to protect public health and safety due to extreme fire danger in the Restricted Area. 

Bandelier National Monument and Valles Caldera National Preserve remain closed due to fire activity until further notice. 

Fire Restrictions: Stage II Fire Restrictions are in effect for the Santa Fe National Forest, which prohibits building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire or stove including charcoal and briquettes. Smoking is also prohibited except within an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site or while stopped in an area at least 3 feet in diameter that is cleared of flammable material. For other activities prohibited under Stage II Fire Restrictions, see https://www.fs.usda.gov/santafe/. Also, due to ongoing fire threats, Sandoval County will not issue burn permits. 

Temporary Flight Restriction: There is a flight restriction on the area over the fire (10 nautical miles southwest of Los Alamos, NOTAM 2/2366). https://tfr.faa.gov/save_pages/detail_2_6919.html. Drones over the fire are also prohibited.  

For detailed smoke information, visit:   https://outlooks.airfire.org/outlook/736b0fb8

Air quality alert has been extended through noon Friday AIR QUALITY ALERT https://forecast.weather.gov/product.php?site=NWS&issuedby=abq&product=AQA&glossary=0 The communities likely to experience the worst smoke impacts today are Pueblo de Cochiti down to Santo Domingo Pueblo with periods into HAZARDOUS. Santa Fe is expected to have overall Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (USG) today improving into tomorrow. Expect mostly GOOD air quality today through tomorrow from Jemez Springs down to Albuquerque. Los Alamos and White Rock should expect MODERATE today worsening into tomorrow. The Santa Clara/Espanola area should expect overall GOOD air quality today worsening into tomorrow.

  

Cerro Pelado Fire Update Wednesday, May 4, 2022 

Hours: 8 am-8 pm Phone: 505-312-4593 Email: 2022.CerroPelado@firenet.gov InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8075/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/SantafeNF 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/2022.Cerropeladofire 

Join us for a virtual public meeting via Facebook Live this evening, May 4, from 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm. at https://fb.me/e/2ifCjthVw You do not need a Facebook account to view. 

Cerro Pelado Fire: The Cerro Pelado Fire, 7 miles east of Jemez Springs, New Mexico, started on Friday, April 22, during an epic wind event. The cause of the fire is under investigation. It is burning in ponderosa pine and mixed conifer trees and brush. The east part of the fire is burning in the fire footprint from the 2011 Las Conchas Fire. The current fire footprint includes forest units that have previously been treated to reduce fire hazard. Three homes were lost in the fire. 

Acreage: 26,927 acres Containment: 13% 

Personnel and Equipment: 645 total personnel; 33 engines, 2 Type 1 hand crews, 9 Type 2 hand crews, 5 Type 2 initial attack crews, 5 helicopters, 2 scooper planes, 9 dozers,2 masticators, 2 ambulances, 1 rapid medical extraction unit and 12 water tenders. 

Yesterday: Despite Red Flag weather conditions, fire growth was modest due largely to expected flanking fires as they steadily progressed toward constructed lines and rocky terrain to the south. Firefighters worked along Highway 4 on the northwest side of the fire toward the northeast by Cox Ranch, thinning dense brush and trees, and preparing to chip removed vegetation. U.S. Department of Energy masticators helped grind up burnable vegetation along the highway, which remained closed from mile marker 27 to mile marker 59. The fire remained south of the highway. An area near the northwest corner of the fire rekindled and was visible from the Sierra De Los Pinos community, but it was well within the perimeter of the fire and did not threaten structures. Crews continued mop up and patrol on the northwest side of the fire, to the southwest corner and east to Paliza Canyon. Helicopters continued firing operations with aerial ignition on the southwest side of the fire near Peralta Ridge to keep fire intensity low near old growth timber. 

Firefighters continued to improve firelines along the Alamo Trail and Forest Road (FR) 289 for containment on the east side of the fire. They continued evaluating and strengthening protection around homes, with no new structural losses. Super scooper planes scooped water from Cochiti Lake and dropped it on Rabbit Mountain and Cochiti Mesa. Coordination between the Incident Team and the Jemez Pueblo and Cochiti Pueblo was crucial in identifying strategies for firefighting if the fire moves south. Portable weather stations were installed near the Cerro Pelado lookout and Dome Mountain to help meteorologists and fire behavior analysts better predict fire conditions. 

Today: Firefighters will continue to work along the perimeter of the fire along Highway 4 on the north, FR 266 on the west, FR 270 on the south, and FR 289 on the east to improve firelines. A priority is to improve firelines along the northeast corner of the fire, along the Alamo Trail from Highway 4 to FR 289. Firefighters will install hoses in this area. They will also coordinate with the National Park Service in this area for structure protection for Bandelier National Monument and Valles Caldera National Preserve. Aerial ignition will continue today to protect old growth timber near Peralta Ridge. Super scooper airplanes may scoop water out of Cochiti Lake to help fight the fire if winds allow. On the north side of the fire, firefighters will improve firelines along Highway 4 by Cox Ranch with thinning and chipping operations. Structure protection will also continue in this area, continually evaluating options for protection. Firefighters will continue coordination with the Cochiti Pueblo and begin assessing and protecting structures in the Cochiti Lake area. Aerial ignition will continue to protect old growth near Peralta Ridge, as needed to ensure containment of the fire. 

Weather and Fire Behavior: Temperatures will be in the low 60s today. Winds out of the west will be 12 mph with gusts to 25. Weather and fuel conditions will continue to support active fire behavior across the eastern half of the incident and moderate fire behavior. On the northwestern portion of the fire, it will continue to back toward Highway 4. If winds channel through the canyon above Kitty Lake, an increase in downslope spread is likely. On the west, fire is expected to continue moving to the south across Oaks Mesa. As the fire moves farther southeast, a reduction in burnable vegetation will help slow growth in that direction. On the southwest, the fire should hang up when it reaches rock washes and sparse vegetation above Cochiti Pueblo, but continue to move through thin strips of mixed conifer in canyon bottoms. In the northeast, winds will continue to support fire spread to the east and north. If it crosses Highway 4, it will rapidly spread in heavy grasses of the Valles Caldera National Preserve. If the fire crosses east of the caldera into mixed conifer and dead and down vegetation and gets established, it will be very active with spotting distances up to ½ mile. 

Evacuations, Shelter Areas: The communities of Cochiti Mesa and the Peralta Canyon area, including Cox Ranch, remain under a “Go” evacuation status. The Sandoval County Fire Department and Emergency Management will provide updated information on evacuations, as needed. Evacuations for Sierra de Los Pinos remain in “Set” mode, meaning being ready to leave at a moment’s notice. If conditions change and the fire threatens the community again, these areas could return to “Go.” Los Alamos County remains in “Ready” status. 

Air quality: Information on air quality is at New Mexico Department of Health Environmental Public Health Tracking, https://nmtracking.org./fire. An interactive smoke map at https://fire.airnow.gov/ allows you to zoom into your area to see the latest smoke conditions. 

Closures: Highway 4 remains closed to all traffic from mile marker 47, 14 miles east of Sierra De los Pinos to mile marker 50, 14 miles west of White Rock due to fire activity. Highway 4 is also closed to non-local traffic at mile marker 35 (2 miles east of Sierra De los Pinos). Motorists should drive slowly along the highway with headlights on. Fire equipment and firefighters will be traveling along Highway 4 and accessing the fire, especially at intersections with FR 10 and FR 280. Heavy traffic impedes firefighting efforts and endangers firefighter safety. The most updated road closure information can be found here: https://www.nmroads.com/mapIndex.html 

The Santa Fe National Forest issued Closure Order Number 10-506 (www.fs.usda.gov/detail/santafe/alerts-notices/?cid=stelprd3802009), restricting public access to the area around the fire. Specifically, all Forest Service lands within an area roughly defined by NM Highway 4 on the west, Valles Caldera National Preserve on the north, Bandelier National Monument on the east, and Zia Pueblo and Santo Domingo Pueblo on the south are closed to the public. The Forest also issued Closure Order Number 10-507 for the Cerro Pelado Firefighter Camp along FR 376. The purpose of both orders is to protect public health and safety due to extreme fire danger in the Restricted Area. 

Bandelier National Monument and Valles Caldera National Preserve remain closed due to fire activity until further notice. 

Fire Restrictions: Stage II Fire Restrictions are in effect for the Santa Fe National Forest, which prohibits building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire or stove including charcoal and briquettes. Smoking is also prohibited except within an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site or while stopped in an area at least 3 feet in diameter that is cleared of flammable material. For other activities prohibited under Stage II Fire Restrictions, see https://www.fs.usda.gov/santafe/. Also, due to ongoing fire threats, Sandoval County will not issue burn permits. 

Temporary Flight Restriction: There is a flight restriction on the area over the fire (10 nautical miles southwest of Los Alamos, NOTAM 2/2366). https://tfr.faa.gov/save_pages/detail_2_6919.html. Drones over the fire are also prohibited.  

For detailed smoke information, visit:   https://outlooks.airfire.org/outlook/736b0fb8

 

 

Air quality alert has been extended through noon MDT Wednesday AIR QUALITY ALERT https://forecast.weather.gov/product.php?site=NWS&issuedby=abq&product=AQA&glossary=0

 

Smoke will start to move more to the southeast impacting Santa Fe down to Santa Rosa State Park. Expect mostly MODERATE air quality today in Los Alamos with the potential for periods into UNHEALTHY tonight. Communities along the Rio Valley should expect smoke to settle in tonight and into Thursday morning with periods of UNHEALTHY. Thursday expect smoke conditions to be similar to today with potential for more smoke along the Rio Valley. Albuquerque and areas west of the fire will likely continue to have GOOD air quality with periods of MODERATE. Chance of smoke moving into Jemez Springs Thursday morning, clearing by mid-day.

 

Forest Service News Release

Santa Fe National Forest11 Forest Lane, Santa Fe, NM 87508Website  |  Facebook  |  Twitter

Media Contact: Julie Anne Overton 505-414-6438
Chantel Herrick 505-382-8061

SM.FS.sfnfpao@usda.gov

 

SFNF Issues Closure Order for Cerro Pelado Fire Camp

SANTA FE, NM – May 3, 2022 – The Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF) has issued a closure order to restrict public access to the area surrounding the base camp for firefighters working on the Cerro Pelado Fire. The order is effective from now until Dec. 31, 2022, unless rescinded earlier.

The Cerro Pelado Fire started on April 22 about 7 miles east of Jemez Springs on the Jemez Ranger District. The cause is under investigation. Updates on fire operations are posted on the SFNF website, www.nmfireinfo.com and Inciweb. The Cerro Pelado also has a dedicated Facebook page at facebook.com/2022.CerroPeladoFire. 

The SFNF issued a fire area closure order on April 26 to prohibit members of the public from entering all Forest Service lands and trails within an area roughly defined by NM Highway 4 on the west, Valles Caldera National Preserve on the north, Bandelier National Monument on the east, and Zia Pueblo and Santo Domingo Pueblo on the south.

The recent order applies to all Forest Service land roughly defined by the Rio Guadalupe on the west, picking up Forest Road (FR) 376 and following it north/northeast, turning to the south at La Cueva and following the Jemez River to its confluence with the Rio Guadalupe.

Fire behavior can be unpredictable, and fire managers are asking the public to exercise caution and steer clear of all areas that could be impacted by the Cerro Pelado Fire.

Federal, state and local officers, firefighters and members of an organized rescue team, and any others authorized by Forest Service permit are exempt from the closure order.Violation of the closure order is a Class B misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not more than $5,000 for individuals and $10,000 for organizations, imprisonment of not more than six months, or both.The closure order and map are posted on the SFNF website and copies are available at SFNF headquarters and the Jemez District Office.  All current closure orders are posted on the Alerts and Notices page of the website.

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 Cerro Pelado Fire Update Tuesday, May 3, 2022 
 

Hours: 8 am-8 pm Phone: 505-312-4593 Email: 2022.CerroPelado@firenet.gov InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8075/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/2022.Cerropeladofire Twitter: https://twitter.com/SantafeNF 

COMMUNITY MEETINGS: A virtual public meeting about the Cerro Pelado fire will be held today from 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm. You can join the meeting on Facebook: https://fb.me/e/1mTocL75l. Members of the Southern Area Red Team and agency representatives will discuss and answer questions about current progress and planned activities on the fire. 

Cerro Pelado Fire: The Cerro Pelado Fire, 7 miles east of Jemez Springs, New Mexico, started on Friday, April 22, during an epic wind event. The cause of the fire is under investigation. It is burning in ponderosa pine and mixed conifer trees and brush. The east part of the fire is burning in the fire footprint from the 2011 Las Conchas Fire. The current fire footprint includes forest units that have previously been treated to reduce fire hazard. Three homes were lost in the fire. 

Acreage: 25,004 acres Containment: 10 % 

Personnel and Equipment: 566 total personnel; 32 engines, 2 Type 1 hotshot crews, 9 Type 2 hand crews, 3 Type 2 initial attack crews, 4 helicopters, 8 dozers, 2 ambulances, 1 rapid medical extraction unit and 9 water tenders. 

Yesterday: The fire moved to the northeast and is burning at the base of Rabbit Mountain near Highway 4, but stayed on the south side. On the north side of the fire, firefighters improved firelines along Highway 4 by Cox Ranch. Structure protection continued in this area. Sandoval County will assess structure damage on the ground. Firefighters worked along the perimeter of the fire on Highway 4 on the north, Forest Road (FR) 266 on the west, FR 270 on the south and FR 289 on the east to improve firelines. Close communication and coordination continued with the Los Alamos Wildland Fire Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory and Los Alamos Fire Department as well as the Jemez Pueblo and Cochiti Pueblo. The fire burned into tribal lands on the southeast corner of the fire where further growth was slowed by rock outcrops. 

Today: On the north side of the fire, firefighters will improve firelines along Highway 4 near FR 289 moving west. They will use masticators and brushing equipment along Highway 4 in the road closure area. Aircraft will help cool hotspots on the northeast side of the fire. Firefighters continue to mop up and protect structures near the Sierra De Los Pinos community and on the northeast side of the fire in the Cochiti Mesa and Peralta Ride communities (including Cox Ranch). They will install hoselay along the Alamo trail to FR 289 on the northeast corner of the fire. On the east side of the fire, bulldozers will improve firelines along FR 289 and more firefighters will work in this area in anticipation of fire activity in canyons. Firefighters will do another firing operation with aerial ignition on the southwest side of the fire near Peralta Ridge to keep fire intensity low near old growth timber. They will continue working along the perimeter of the fire along FR 266 on the west along FR 270 on the south to improve firelines and continue mop up. 

Weather and Fire Behavior: Temperatures will be in the mid 60s to low 70s. The National Weather Service issued a Red Flag warning from noon to 9 pm. Wind gusts will be up to 35 mph. Southwest winds will transition to the northwest after sunset. Another cold front will approach this evening. The high winds will cause active fire behavior, particularly where winds and topography align. Torching and spotting may occur during the heat of the day. The fire is expected to continue moving south. Fire activity will decrease when the fire reaches rock washes above Cochiti Pueblo, but will continue to move through mixed conifer in the canyon bottoms. Southwest and south winds will support fire spread to the east and north. If the fire crosses Highway 4, there will be high rates of spread in the Valles Caldera National Preserve due to heavy grasses. If the fire crosses the Caldera it will be in mixed conifer with dead stumps and logs. If the fire gets established in this area, expect extreme fire behavior and long range spotting. 

Evacuations, Shelter Areas: The communities of Cochiti Mesa and the Peralta Canyon area remain under a “Go” evacuation status. Four additional residences remain evacuated in the Cox Ranch area between mile marker 36 and 40 along Highway 4. The Sandoval County Fire Department and Emergency Management will provide updated information on evacuations, as needed. Evacutions for Sierra de Los Pinos remain in “Set” mode, meaning being ready to leave at a moment’s notice. If conditions change and the fire threatens the community again, these areas could return to “Go.” 

Air quality: Information on air quality is at New Mexico Department of Health Environmental Public Health Tracking, https://nmtracking.org./fire. An interactive smoke map at https://fire.airnow.gov/ allows you to zoom into your area to see the latest smoke conditions. 

Closures: Highway 4 is closed to all traffic from mile marker 34, east of Sierra De los Pinos to mile marker 50, 14 miles west of White Rock due to fire activity. Highway 4 is also closed to non-local traffic at mile marker 35 (2 miles east of Sierra De los Pinos). Motorists should drive slowly along the highway with headlights on. Fire equipment and firefighters will be traveling along Highway 4 and accessing the fire, especially at intersections with FR 10 and FR 280. If heavy traffic impedes firefighting efforts and endangers firefighter safety. The most updated road closure information can be found here: https://www.nmroads.com/mapIndex.html 

The Santa Fe National Forest has issued another closure order for the Cerro Pelado Firefighter Camp. The camp is along FR 376. Closure Order No. 10-507. The purpose of the order is to protect public health and safety due to extreme fire danger. The Order will remain in effect until December 31, 2022, or until rescinded. Closure Order No. 10-507 is posted at https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd1017995.pdf 

The Army Corps of Engineers Elk Run Campground by Cochiti Lake is closed. The Bandelier National Monument has been evacuated due to fire activity. Valles Caldera National Preserve remains closed until further notice. 

The Santa Fe National Forest issued a closure order restricting public access to the area around the fire. Specifically, all Forest Service lands within an area roughly defined by NM Highway 4 on the west, Valles Caldera National Preserve on the north, Bandelier National Monument on the east, and Zia Pueblo and Santo Domingo Pueblo on the south are closed to the public. Closure order10-506 is posted at https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/santafe/alerts-notices/?cid=stelprd3802009 

Fire Restrictions: Stage II Fire Restrictions are in effect for the Santa Fe National Forest, which prohibits building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire or stove including charcoal and briquettes. Smoking is also prohibited except within an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site or while stopped in an area at least 3 feet in diameter that is cleared of flammable material. For other activities prohibited under Stage II Fire Restrictions, see https://www.fs.usda.gov/santafe/. Also, due to ongoing fire threats, Sandoval County will not issue burn permits. 

Temporary Flight Restriction: There is a flight restriction on the area over the fire (10 nautical miles southwest of Los Alamos, NOTAM 2/2366). https://tfr.faa.gov/save_pages/detail_2_6919.html. Drones over the fire are also prohibited.  

For Details, visit:  
https://outlooks.airfire.org/outlook/736b0fb8

 

Air quality alert has been extended through noon Tuesday AIR QUALITY ALERT https://forecast.weather.gov/product.php?site=NWS&issuedby=abq&product=AQA&glossary=0

 

Today expect smoke conditions to be similar to Sunday with the greatest impacts in Los Alamos area and the Rio Valley, from Espanola down to Sandia Pueblo. Albuquerque and areas west of the fire will likely see GOOD air quality with haze. Santa Fe area should also expect to see better air quality today worsening into tomorrow. An additional temporary smoke monitor will be set up near Espanola today or tomorrow.