Acres: 341,735| Containment: 93% | Total personnel: 396|
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: Firefighters are communicating with private landowners to better serve their specific needs while continuing to scout for areas still in need of suppression repair. Information received through the Private Land Suppression Repair Survey (now available in both English and Spanish) has been critical to guiding this important repair work. In the coming days, the incident management team expects more resources to arrive to support fire suppression repairs.

Operations: A recent aerial infrared flight showed no detectable heat signatures in the fire area. In the Pot Creek corridor, firefighters are using grading equipment to improve existing roads that have been affected by fire suppression activities. North of the fire, crews are constructing water bars along roadways to help prevent erosion. In Cleveland, Holman, and Sierra Bonita, firefighters are repairing fences and chipping cut branches and limbs to reduce any evidence of fire suppression activities. Portions of handline were also repaired near Montezuma Castle, with firefighters developing strategies to repair additional dozer lines in this area. In Gallinas Canyon, crews are removing fallen trees from drainages to help restore the natural water flow and prevent debris from travelling downstream. A significant amount of cut logs and debris have been removed from all but one mile of the Hamilton Mesa Trail to help restore the wilderness character in this area. The remaining repair work within this portion of the Pecos Wilderness should be completed over the next few days.

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, hazard tree felling, 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: A persistent weather pattern will remain in place today, resulting in similar conditions to the past several days with a clear morning and partly cloudy afternoon. Scattered afternoon showers and storms are expected along with lightning, gusty winds, and locally heavy rainfall. High temperatures will be in the 80s at lower elevations with 70s elsewhere. Little change in the weather is expected through early next week with similar temperatures and storm chances.

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 & Calf Canyon Fires Burned Area Emergency Response: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8104/ |New Mexico State Emergency Operations Center: 1-800-432-2080.

Federal Disaster Assistance: For questions regarding damages from flooding or erosion, please contact the FEMA Helpline at 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/CalfCanyonHermitsPeak*| nmfireinfo.com |tinyurl.com/HermitsYouTube | Santa Fe National Forest | Carson National Forest

*Beginning July 16, the Calf Canyon and Hermits Peak Fire Facebook page will no longer be monitored. Please refer to the Santa Fe National Forest Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/santafeNF/ for future updates.

July 13, 2022 – Hermits Peak and Calf Canyon Fire Update

Acres: 341,735| Containment: 93% | Total personnel: 323| 
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: Using the Private Land Suppression Repair Survey, residents have submitted requests for firefighter assistance on over 500 properties around the Hermits Peak and Calf Canyon Fire area. The incident management team is prioritizing suppression repair activities on these private lands to assist the local communities, with additional resources arriving over the next several days to support this mission. As suppression repair actions are completed, the incident management team notifies local landowners to confirm that their needs are met.

Operations: Despite recurring afternoon rains, firefighters have successfully completed suppression repairs in Christmas Tree Canyon. Crews continue to repair impacted fences and dozer lines, a specific type of fireline constructed by the front blade of a dozer, in the areas around Chacon and Sierra Bonita. Near Cleveland, firefighters are cleaning and repairing culverts to improve road conditions for future use. All suppression repair measures completed along the corridor between Pot Creek and Black Lake have remained stable, even with the wet conditions. In some places, over an inch of heavy rain forced crews to disengage from repair work in the afternoon. Crews are scouting for areas where additional repairs may be needed in the coming days. Excavators are moving into the area alongside Cañ de la Cueva to assist with dozer line repair. In areas where the terrain is too steep for heavy equipment, firefighters are completing repairs by hand. Near Elk Mountain Road, crews are locating and retrieving miscellaneous equipment, including pumps, hoses, and fuel cans.  

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, hazard tree felling, 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: Scattered showers and thunderstorms will develop late this morning and continue through the evening. Many of these slow moving storms will contain heavy rainfall which may result in flash flooding. Scattered afternoon and evening showers and thunderstorms will be possible through the weekend. Temperatures today through the weekend will not stray far from the normal values for this time of year.

After 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 & Calf Canyon Fires Burned Area Emergency Response: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8104/ |New Mexico State Emergency Operations Center: 1-800-432-2080.

Suppression Repair Property Survey: 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/CalfCanyonHermitsPeak*| nmfireinfo.com |tinyurl.com/HermitsYouTube | Santa Fe National Forest | Carson National Forest

*Beginning July 16, the Calf Canyon and Hermits Peak Fire Facebook page will no longer be monitored. Please refer to the Santa Fe National Forest Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/santafeNF/ for future updates.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  July 12, 2022

FLOOD WATCH

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

Southwest Area Type 2 Incident Management Team 4 assumes command of Hermits Peak and Calf Canyon Fires 

Update for July 12, 2022 
 

Acres: 341,735| Containment: 93% | Total personnel: 308| 
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 Southwest Area Type 2 Incident Management Team 4, led by Incident Commander Aaron Hulburd, assumed command of the Hermits Peak and Calf Canyon Fires at 7:00 AM on Monday, July 11, 2022. Southwest Team 4 will continue the full suppression strategy implemented by Great Basin Incident Management Team 7, with an emphasis on suppression repair activities.   

Operations: Although rain has intermittently slowed the progression of suppression repair, firefighters successfully completed planned repairs along Forest Road 5 from mile post 16 to Pot Creek. In this area, firefighters are cleaning and repairing culverts to improve road conditions for the future when cut logs will be hauled out of the fire area. Firefighters are helping to identify repair needs on private land, working with landowners to assess and address any remaining work. As crews complete grading and road repairs in Ledoux, other firefighters are chipping cut vegetation and repairing fences in Christmas Canyon. Afternoon rain and hail forced crews to temporarily disengage from the Hamilton Mesa Trail, with work resuming after the storm passed. Firefighters are continuing to survey and assess the fire area to locate any suppression lines that have not yet been recorded. Suppression repair on private land in the Highway 518 and 434 corridors is anticipated to take approximately two weeks to complete. Additional excavators have been ordered to repair the lines around the Iron Gate Trailhead and Grass Mountain area.  

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, hazard tree felling, 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: Showers and thunderstorms will be possible through the day with the best chances during the afternoon and evening. These storms will be slow moving and may contain heavy rainfall which could result in flash flooding. Scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms will be possible through the weekend. Temperatures will remain near seasonal normal range.  

After 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 & Calf Canyon Fires Burned Area Emergency Response: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8104/ |New Mexico State Emergency Operations Center: 1-800-432-2080. 

Suppression Repair Property Survey: 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/CalfCanyonHermitsPeak*| nmfireinfo.com |tinyurl.com/HermitsYouTube | Santa Fe National Forest | Carson National Forest 

*Beginning July 16, the Calf Canyon and Hermits Peak Fire Facebook page will no longer monitored. Please refer to the Santa Fe National Forest Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/santafeNF/ for future updates. 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  July 11, 2022

FLASH FLOOD WARNING 

Las Vegas - The National Weather Service in Albuquerque has issued a Flash Flood Warning for The Northern Portion of Hermits Peak Calf Canyon Burn Scar in in  Mora County in northeastern New Mexico, Northwestern San Miguel County in northeastern New Mexico until 4:00 pm MDT.

Acres: 341,735| Containment: 93% | Total personnel: 351| 
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: near Gallinas Canyon | Fuels: Heavy mixed conifer, ponderosa pine, brush, and grass

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  July 9, 2022

FLASH FLOOD WARNING 

San Miguel County - The National Weather Service in Albuquerque has issued a Flash Flood Warning for The Gallinas River Basin within Hermits Peak Calf Canyon Burn Scar in in Northwestern San Miguel County in northeastern New Mexico until 9:15 PM, MDT.

PLEASE CLICK ON THIS LINK FOR THE SAN MIGUEL COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE FACEBOOK PAGE FOR DETAILED INFORMATION   

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  July 8, 2022

FLASH FLOOD WARNING 

Las Vegas - The National Weather Service in Albuquerque has issued a Flash Flood Warning for the Hermits Peak and Calf Canyon Burn Scar in Western Mora County in northeastern New Mexico and Northwestern San Miguel County in northeastern New Mexico until 7:45 PM, MDT.

PLEASE CLICK ON THIS LINK FOR THE SAN MIGUEL COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE FACEBOOK PAGE FOR DETAILED INFORMATION  

FLASH FLOOD WARNING 

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 San Miguel County in northwestern New Mexico until 2:45 PM, MDT.