Hermits Peak and Calf Canyon Fires

May 27, 2022, Daily Update, 08:00AM

Acres: 312,230 | Containment: 47% | Total personnel: 3,009
Start Date: Hermits Peak: April 6, 2022; Calf Canyon: April 19, 2022
Cause: Hermits Peak: Spot fires from prescribed burn; Calf Canyon: Under investigation |
Location: Located near Gallinas Canyon
 Fuels: Heavy mixed conifer, ponderosa pine, brush, and grass

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

EVACUATION UPDATE May 26, 2022 
 Effective immediately, the communities of Hidden Lake, Black Lake Resort, and Black Lake have been downgraded to "READY" status from "SET". Residents from these areas should remain prepared as of 12:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 26' 2022. 
 The status for all evacuation areas within Colfax County remain unchanged. 
 READY status: 
- Vietnam Memorial Area- Taos Pines- Village of Angel Fire- Black Lake- Black Lake Resort- Hidden Lake  

Favorable weather conditions, combined with excellent suppression efforts have allowed for the repopulation of these previously evacuated communities. The Colfax County Sheriff's Office in consultation with the Colfax County Emergency Management, and with California lnteragency Incident Management Team 2 sincerely thank the impacted communities for your patience as the firefighting efforts have progressed. 
 While there is no immediate threat to Colfax County, residents should always be prepared for unexpected events, including wildland fires. For information on how to best prepare, you can visit www.ready.gov. 
 05/26/2022 @ 1200 

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEMay 25, 2022 – 3:00 p.m.

Taos County Sheriff - Evacuation Update

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 25, 2022 @ 3:00 p.m. 

 San Miguel/ Mora County News Release Calf Canyon/ Hermits Peak Fire  Evacuation Updates  

SAN MIGUEL COUNTY - The communities of Rociada, Lone Pine Mesa, San Ignacio, Mineral Hill, San Geronimo, Ojitos Frios, and San Pablo have been DOWNGRADED to READY STATUS.  

 Current Evacuation Statuses: The communities of Bull Canyon, Cow Creek, Upper and Lower Colonias, Holy Ghost, Tres Lagunas, El Macho, and Lower La Posada are in GO STATUS.  The communities of Camino Rincon and Rivera Ridge (East of CR B52), Pecos Southwest (East of CR 53/ Rincon del Cielo), Pecos Southeast, East Pecos North, East Pecos South, and Pecos National Monument are in SET STATUS. 
 The communities of Camp Luna, Cinder Road, Crestone, NMBHI, Romeroville East, and, Romeroville West, Taylor Wells, D Bibb West, D Bibb East, Gunner Trail, Hot Springs, Country Acres, Storrie Lake, 527-525- Hwy 518, Emplazado, County A3, Las Dispensas, Trout Springs, Gallinas, Lower Canyon Road, La Canada, E Las Tusas, W Las Tusas, E Sapello, W Sapello, Manuelitas, Canoncito, Tierra Monte – Canon, Big Pine, Canovas Canyon, El Porvenir, Porvenir Canyon, Chavez, Pendaries Valley East, Pendaries Village, Rociada, Lone Pine Mesa, San Ignacio, Mineral Hill, San Geronimo, Ojitos Frios, and San Pablo are in READY STATUS. 
 Residents are advised to be cautious during repopulation as fire personnel and fire apparatuses are still present. For additional information, you can call the Fire Information Line at (505) 356-2636. Residents of San Miguel, Mora, Taos, Colfax and Santa Fe Counties should remain on high alert for changes to evacuation statuses and road closures. 
 ROAD CLOSURES 
 San Miguel County: N.M. 65 is closed at mile post 15. N.M. 223 is closed at mile post 2 (Entrance to Cow Creek and Upper/ Lower Colonias). N.M. 63 is closed at mile post 7 (Monastery Lake).

Link to Ready, Set Go, Wildland Fire Action Guide: https://cms6.revize.com/revize/sanmiguelcounty/FINAL-new-mexico-RSG-guide-2017_000.pdf 
Evacuation Information  Scan the QR code here for the latest evacuation map or visit the ArcGIS Map. Please follow San Miguel County and Mora County Sheriff’s Facebook pages for the latest updates at:  https://www.facebook.com/smcso.nm  
Evacuation Shelter Sites Information  
 
San Miguel County Shelters:  
- Old Memorial Middle School Gymnasium, 947 Old National Rd. in Las Vegas- Genoveva Chavez Community Center, 3221 Rodeo Rd, Santa Fe

San Miguel County Livestock Shelters:  
- The Zamora Arena, #1 Santa Fe Trail Event Center Dr- Springer Rodeo Grounds, 16 Airport Rd 

Hermits Peak and Calf Canyon Fires

May 26, 2022, Daily Update, 08:00AM

Acres:  312,057| Containment: 46% | Total personnel: 3,091
Start Date: Hermits Peak: April 6, 2022; Calf Canyon: April 19, 2022
Cause: Hermits Peak: Spot fires from prescribed burn; Calf Canyon: Under investigation |
Location: Located near Gallinas Canyon
 Fuels: Heavy mixed conifer, ponderosa pine, brush, and grass

Highlights: Critical fire weather returns Friday and will continue through the weekend. Some areas are being repopulated as evacuation status is being reduced, please be mindful of fire personnel, aircraft, vehicles, and equipment that will be working. If you fly, we can’t – If any drones are launched in the Temporary Flight Restriction zone, all firefighting aircraft will be grounded immediately. Residents of San Miguel, Mora, Taos, Colfax and Santa Fe Counties should remain on high alert for changes to evacuation statuses and road closures.

Operations:

West Zone (SWAIMT1): Work continued yesterday north of the fire, constructing a shaded fuel break between Pot Creek and the 2020 Luna Fire scar. Progress is ongoing on the dozer line near Gallegos Peak and hand line between Angostura and the “Thumb’s Thumb” spot fire. Containment percentage increased south of Chacon as firefighters secured line on both sides of NM Highway 121. Today, in addition to continued indirect line construction to the north, firefighters will be working in steep terrain completing direct line on the northwestern corner of the fire. Difficult access and the potential for aircraft being grounded in high winds requires a careful, deliberate approach to ensure firefighter safety while pursing the course that holds the highest probability of success in containment.  

East Zone (CAIIMT2): Yesterday control lines were completed up and down the East Zone of the Calf Canyon fire. Mop up activities continued along contingency lines established below Black Lake and the 434 road. Dozer line was being constructed north of Angel Fire along the ridgeline to provide adequate defense in the event of control lines being challenged. Today, firefighters enjoyed the benefits of recent rains which greatly helped suppression efforts along the northern edges of the fire.  There are still small sections of open fireline but they are being watched and worked. A secondary line of defense along the top of the ridge west of Angel Fire is being implemented.  Fire management will remain diligent in pursuing treatments with the highest probability of success.

South Zone (CAIIMT5): Over the next couple of days cooler weather will transition to a warmer and drier pattern increasing fire activity. East of the Pecos Valley corridor, firefighters continue to work on improving containment and contingency lines from Barillas Peak to Elk Mountain. Crews continue to clear and improve defensible space around structures in Pecos Valley. Fire managers are also completing a strategy to contain the fire in the Pecos Wilderness. This area presents a unique safety challenge to firefighters due to significant tree blow-down from storms this past winter.

Evacuations: go to tinyurl.com/HermitsPeak for the evacuation map and follow:

San Miguel County Sheriff  facebook.com/smcso.nm

Mora County Sheriff  facebook.com/moracountysheriffoffice

Taos County Sheriff  facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064642843163

Colfax County Sheriff  facebook.com/Colfax-County-Sheriffs-Office-New-Mexico-971817152850308

Santa Fe County Sheriff https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064737934118

Weather: Today will see the warming and drying trend continue as the upper-level ridge builds over our area. Daytime temperatures will be in the upper 60s mid 70s with minimum relative humidity values dropping into the 9-15% range.

Winds will be out of the northwest at 10-15 mph with gusts to 20 mph and slightly higher on ridges.

Closures and Restrictions: Stage 3 forest-wide closures are in effect for the Carson and Santa Fe National Forests, public access is prohibited and the restrictions and closure orders can be found on the Carson NF website and Santa Fe NF website. BLM New Mexico Fire Restrictions https://tinyurl.com/BLMNewMexico.

After Fire Flooding and Recovery Resources: After Wildfire New Mexico guide  https://www.afterwildfirenm.org/ ; Hermits Peak & Calf Canyon Fire Burned Area Emergency Response information https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8104/.

Smoke: An interactive smoke map at fire.airnow.gov/ allows you to zoom into your area to see the latest smoke conditions.

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

Online: inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8069/ | https://www.facebook.com/CalfCanyonHermitsPeak| nmfireinfo.com |tinyurl.com/HermitsYouTube | Santa Fe NF | 
 
 

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 25, 2022 -  

San Miguel/ Mora County News Release  Calf Canyon/ Hermits Peak Fire 
 
Evacuation Updates  MORA COUNTY - The following communities of Golondrinas and Watrous/Fort Union have been DOWNGRADED to READY STATUS, effective immediately. 

The community of Chacon is in GO STATUS. 
 
The communities of Buena Vista, North Mora (East), Guadalupita, South Mora (West), North Mora (West), Lucero, Rainsville, El Turquillo, Los Cisneros, Ojo Feliz & Apache Lake, Los Hueros, Los Lefebres, Ocate, Naranjos, Sierra Bonita, and West Holman are in SET STATUS. 
 
The communities of Upper Morphy, Santiago Creek, South Carmen, Ledoux, Penasco Blanco, Abuelo, Puertocito, Rito Cebolla, South Mora (East), Golondrinas, and Watrous/Fort Union are in READY STATUS. 
 
Residents are advised to be cautious during repopulation as fire personnel and fire apparatuses are still present. For additional information, you can call the Fire Information Line at (505) 356-2636. 
 
ROAD CLOSURES  Mora County: N.M. 518 is closed between mile posts 42 (Taos County line) and 52 (Sipapu). N.M. 121 is closed between mile posts 0 and 8.
 
Link to Ready, Set Go, Wildland Fire Action Guide: https://cms6.revize.com/revize/sanmiguelcounty/FINAL-new-mexico-RSG-guide-2017_000.pdf 

 Hermits Peak and Calf Canyon Fires

May 25, 2022, Daily Update, 8:00AM

Acres: 311,148 | Containment: 42% | Total personnel: 2,987Start Date: Hermits Peak: April 6, 2022; Calf Canyon: April 19, 2022
Cause: Hermits Peak: Spot fires from prescribed burn; Calf Canyon: Under investigation
Location: Located near Gallinas CanyonFuels: Heavy mixed conifer, ponderosa pine, brush, and grass

Highlights: There was no overnight infrared flight to update today’s acreage due to cloud cover but there was minimal fire growth yesterday. Firefighters continue to reinforce and mop up line to increase containment. While over 50% of the fire area received some precipitation, it was not enough to penetrate drought impacted duff layers and heavy fuels.  Residents of San Miguel, Mora, Taos, Colfax and Santa Fe Counties should remain on high alert for changes to evacuation statuses and road closures.

Operations:

West Zone (SWAIMT1): Work continued in the west zone of the fire yesterday constructing dozer line along the contingency line near Gallegos Peak and securing handline near Martinez Pond. Today, nine hotshot crews, aircraft and heavy equipment will be working along the rugged eight mile stretch from Angostura to “Thumb’s Thumb,” the spot fire on the northeast corner. Work will continue on contingency lines to the north as well. Firefighters continue to deepen containment lines in the 121 corridor near Chacon and continue with structure protection efforts there as well as along the NM Hwy 518 in Tres Ritos, Loma Linda and Las Mochas. Structure resources are also engaged in the Peñasco area. 

East Zone (CAIIMT2): Yesterday, fire crews continued clearing vegetation along the ridgeline (near Taos/Colfax County line) towards Angel Fire, creating a shaded fuel break. Fire suppression repair work was also initiated throughout the East Zone to help minimize potential soil erosion and other impacts resulting from fire suppression activities. Today it was reported that control lines are complete up and down the East Zone. Mop up activities continue along contingency lines being established below Black Lake and the 434 Rd. Dozer line is being constructed to the north of Angel Fire along the ridgeline.

South Zone (CAIIMT5): Yesterday’s cloud cover and higher relative humidity moderated fire behavior with little movement on the southwest and west perimeters. Good progress was made improving and constructing containment lines to slow the forward progress of the fire. Crews continue to clear and improve defensible space around structures in Pecos Valley. In the Pecos Wilderness, resource managers are working with firefighters to locate and construct containment lines

Evacuations: Scan the QR code or go to tinyurl.com/HermitsPeak for the evacuation map and follow:

San Miguel County Sheriff’s Office: facebook.com/smcso.nm

Mora County Sheriff’s Office: facebook.com/moracountysheriffoffice

Taos County Sheriff’s Office: facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064642843163

Colfax County Sheriff’s Office: facebook.com/Colfax-County-Sheriffs-Office-New-Mexico-971817152850308

Weather: Overall warmer and drier with mostly sunny skies. Daytime high temperatures will be in the upper 50s to upper 60s. Minimum relative humidity values will be in the 18-25% range. Winds will be out of the north-northwest, 10-15 mph with gusts to 20 mph.

Closures and Restrictions: Stage 3 forest-wide closures are in effect for the Carson and Santa Fe National Forests, public access is prohibited and the restrictions and closure orders can be found on the Carson NF website and Santa Fe NF website. BLM New Mexico Fire Restrictions https://tinyurl.com/BLMNewMexico.

After Fire Flooding and Recovery Resources: After Wildfire New Mexico guide  https://www.afterwildfirenm.org/ ; Hermits Peak & Calf Canyon Fire Burned Area Emergency Response information https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8104/.

Smoke: An interactive smoke map at fire.airnow.gov/ allows you to zoom into your area to see the latest smoke conditions.

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

Online: inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8069/ | https://www.facebook.com/CalfCanyonHermitsPeak| nmfireinfo.com |tinyurl.com/HermitsYouTube | Santa Fe NF |

Last Saturday, a Missoula Fire Department engine crew was checking the Gascon area of the Hermit’s Peak / Calf Creek Fire for residual heat, when they encountered something unexpected.

A young elk calf was alone in an area of severely burned forest. “She was lying quietly in a six-inch deep layer of white ash, surrounded by the blackened remains of fir trees”, says firefighter Nate Sink. The Missoula crew observed her for an hour, in hopes that her mother would return. Eventually, they approached, and finding no adult elk tracks nearby, they sought help for little “Cinder” down the road in Upper Rociada.

Fortunately, local ranchers Lisa and Carl Bartley knew just what to do.  Their family veterinarian, Dr. Bill Brainard, recommended rehydrating Cinder with a mix of condensed milk and water, until specially formulated milk could be obtained. “Our dog, Brylee, was intent on doing his best to mother little Cinder”, reminisces Lisa Bartley.

Local Fish and Game Officer Logan Eshem recommended that Cinder be entrusted to the care of Dr. Ramsey at the New Mexico Wildlife Center in Espanola, NM. The Bartleys loaded Cinder into their truck and met Dr. Ramsey in Las Vegas, NM.

Cinder is now safe at the Wildlife Center refuge. She has gotten the hang of bottle-feeding, and a surrogate-mother elk at the refuge has taken on the duties of cleaning and bestowing affection on the little orphan. Cinder will spend an estimated four months at the refuge, before becoming eligible for release into the wild.

Back in Rociada, Lisa Bartley (Sapello-Rociada Fire Department) and Carl Bartley (Bonito Fire Department Chief for 13 years) have been working hard to protect their home and community from the Calf-Canyon Fire. At times they’ve been joined by their daughter Jennifer, who flies a Bell 212 helicopter for Plumas Helitack, and their firefighter son-in-law, Cole. “The fire hit our ranch with a vengeance”, says Lisa Bartley, “We’ve had the honor of working closely with many firefighters who’ve come to help, and have made great friends. We appreciate all of their work so much!”

Public safety is the highest priority for the fire management team on the Hermit’s Peak and Calf Canyon Fires. 

Evacuation decisions and implementation are ultimately the responsibility of the County Sheriff’s Offices. In the photo, the San Miguel County Sheriff (center, blue polo), two Santa Fe County representatives (left, black shirts), and a Incident Management Team representative (far right, dark blue sweatshirt) work together to identify communities at risk from the fire.

Communities at risk are notified via text message (recipient’s location is determined which cell towers are nearby), radio, social media, and government websites.  When a community goes into “go” status, the Sheriff’s Office also conducts door-to-door, in-person notifications.

“Ready status” means that residents should take actions that include creating a family evacuation plan, assembling an emergency kit, and knowing locations of gas, water, and electric shutoffs in your home.

“Set status” informs community members it is time to take actions to protect their families and properties, and to help firefighters succeed.  This includes monitoring fire weather and evacuation updates closely, alerting neighbors, keeping an emergency kit ready, and bringing combustible door mats, lawn furniture, etc indoors. 

“Go status” means it is time to evacuate to a safe location.  Leaving as soon as possible is not only safest, it also reduces road congestions, helping nearby communities get out, and firefighters get in.  Identify alternative routes in case of road blockages, have a pre-identified destination, and bring your emergency kit.

A full action guide is available in the New Mexico Read-Set-Go Guide: https://www.emnrd.nm.gov/sfd/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/FINAL-new-mexico-RSG-guide-2017_000.pdf

Hermits Peak and Calf Canyon Fires
May 24, 2022, Daily Update, 08:00AM

Acres: 311,148 | Containment: 41% | Total personnel: 2957
Start Date: Hermits Peak: April 6, 2022; Calf Canyon: April 19, 2022 
Cause: Hermits Peak: Spot fires from prescribed burn; Calf Canyon: Under investigation 
Location: Located near Gallinas Canyon
Fuels: Heavy mixed conifer, ponderosa pine, brush, and grass

Highlights: A slight reduction in acreage is due to better mapping and interpretation of infrared imagery. Weather has been favorable for aircraft to be utilized around the fire by cooling areas with intense heat and by aiding firefighters as they continue to make good progress on containment lines. After Fire Flooding and Recovery Resources: After Wildfire New Mexico guide  https://www.afterwildfirenm.org/ ; Hermits Peak & Calf Canyon Fire Burned Area Emergency Response information https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8104/. Residents of San Miguel, Mora, Taos, Colfax and Santa Fe Counties should remain on high alert for changes to evacuation statuses and road closures. Operations:

West Zone (SWAIMT1): Aided by favorable weather, fire crews made excellent progress securing lines around the northwest corner of the fire yesterday. Hotshot crews continue to remove fuel and deepen containment lines along the northern edge of the fire near Martinez Pond, utilizing aircraft to cool areas of more intense heat. Work continues around structures in the HWY 121 corridor near Chacon. Structure protection resources are active along HWY 518 near Las Mochas, Rock Wall and Sipapu and in the 73 corridor and containment line reinforcement continues in anticipation of facing the test of critical fire weather this weekend.