All evacuation levels associated with the Cooks Peak Fire was lifted at 1700 today.

Update 5/01/2022

Acres: 59,359 acres 
Location: North of Ocate NM, approximately 46 miles north of Las Vegas, NM
Containment: 97%
Start Date: Sunday, April 17, 2022
Cause: Human, under investigation
Fuels: ponderosa pine, oak brush and grass

Containment increases

Winds ease Saturday, critical fire weather returns Sunday
Morning Update 4/30/2022

Acres: 56,276 acres 
Location: North of Ocate NM, approximately 46 miles north of Las Vegas, NM
Containment: 56%
Start Date: Sunday, April 17, 2022
Cause: Human, under investigation
Fuels: ponderosa pine, oak brush and grass

The Colfax County Sheriff's Office released an evacuation update for the Cooks Peak Fire at 8:33 pm on 4/29/2022.

Effective at 6:00 PM on the Cooks Peak Fire, Colfax County Sheriff's Office in consultation with Colfax County Emergency Management is placing the following communities in READY Evacuation status:

• Miami
• Philmont Scout Ranch Head Quarters

The following communities in SET Evacuation status:

• Rayado
• Sweetwater
• Sunnyside

The following communities will remain in GO! Evacuation Status:

• Philmont Scout Ranch Back Country West of State Road 21

Red Flag Conditions Indicate Critical Fire Weather Today
Morning Update 4/29/2022

Acres: 55,978 acres 
Location: North of Ocate NM, approximately 46 miles north of Las Vegas, NM
Containment: 54%
Start Date: Sunday, April 17, 2022
Cause: Human, under investigation
Fuels: ponderosa pine, oak brush and grass

Extreme Fire Weather is expected today. 
SW IMT 5 anticipates the POTENTIAL for increased fire activity on the Cooks Peak Fire.  Other risks associated with the fire area include uprooted or snapped trees, downed power lines and blowing ash and dust.  These risks will hinder the firefighting operations and create safety concerns for wildland fire crews.  Air crews will be grounded until the major winds have passed and it is safe to put them back in the air.
Residents in Mora and Colfax County should remain vigilant and alert as wind will drive fire behavior today.

Alert: Extreme weather and fire behavior expected Friday and Saturday. A Red Flag Warning and High Wind Warning is in effect for Friday over the Cooks Peak fire. This will be a dangerous fire weather day with extreme fire weather conditions. Sustained winds of 25-40 mph with gusts around 50 mph are expected. Gusts in some locations could reach 60 mph, especially downwind of mountainous terrain and across ridgetops. Warm temperatures, strong, gusty winds and low humidity will challenge firefighters' efforts to hold established lines. Emphasis will be focused on patrolling constructed containment lines and protecting fire-threatened structures and natural resources. Crews will continue to construct new fireline and conduct suppression repair work when and where it is safe to do so.

INFORMATIONAL ONLY, NO CHANGES TO COOKS PEAK FIRE EVACUATION STATUS

San Miguel /Mora County News Release April 28, 3:00 pmCalf Canyon WildfireSan Miguel /Mora County News Release

Calf Canyon Current Fire Evacuations
April 28, 2022 at 3:00 PM
Media Contacts: Joy Ansley 505-239-3973, jansley@co.sanmiguel.nm.us; Jesus Romero 505-617-8023, jmromero@co.sanmiguel.nm.us
Las Vegas, NM 3:00 pm:

The San Miguel and Mora County Sheriffs ask that all residents within the Calf Canyon/Hermits Peak Fire areas remain on high alert for changes to the following evacuation statuses. Red Flag weather this afternoon and tomorrow could result in sudden changes to closures and evacuation levels. Please watch for updates on social media or call the fire information line at 505-356-2636 to get the most up-to-date information.

It is imperative to respect closures and follow evacuation orders. Failure to do so can pose additional risk to firefighters and the public.
Highway 518 is now open. Please drive carefully and be aware of fire traffic in the area.
 
Community Evacuation Status in San Miguel and Mora Counties:
GO (mandatory full evacuation, colored green): In San Miguel County, Big Pine, Canovas Canyon, Porvenir Canyon, El Porvenir, Lower Canyon Road, Gallinas, Trout Springs, San Ignacio, Lone Pine Mesa, Chavez, Canoncito, Pendaries Village, Pendaries Valley East, Rociada, Upper Rociada and Tierra Monte Canon, La Canada, Las Tusas, and Manuelitas are all still in GO status. 
In Mora County, Penasco Blanco, South Carmen, Rito Cebolla, Ledoux, Upper Morphy, Santiago Creek, Abuelo, Puertocito and Buena Vista are all still in GO status.
 
SET (prepare for evacuation, colored yellow): The community of Mora SOUTH of Highway 518 is in ready status approximately 1.5 miles south to roadblocks on A001, A011 and 94. The area south of these roadblocks is in GO status.
 
READY (get ready for possible evacuation, colored red):
In San Miguel, the area of 527-525 on Highway 518 as well as East and West Sapello are in READY status.
In Mora County, Rito Cebolla, Buena Vista, and the community of Mora NORTH of Highway 518 are all in READY status.
The areas of Las Dispensas, County Road A3 and Los Alamitos are no longer under evacuation.
San Miguel & Mora County Sheriff’s Departments and local law enforcement, along with the Incident Management Team will continue to perform re-assessments of these evacuation levels as the fire progresses. As we continue to work, please stay vigilant and adhere to instructions from press releases, law enforcement and fire personnel. The evacuation map is attached. This emerging situation remains extremely serious and refusal to evacuate could be a fatal decision. 
 
Please remember that drones are still prohibited in the temporary flight restriction zone, outlined on the map. The evacuation/flight zone map is attached. If drones enter the flight zone, firefighting aircraft are grounded.
 
Road Closures: In San Miguel County, State Road 65 at the Montezuma Pond, and CR A27 are closed.  County Road A3A and CR A4A are closed and State Roads 105, 94, 266 and 276 remain closed. Highway 518 is now open. County Road A3 is open to State Road 266.
Road closures in Mora County include C001, State Road 94 at LeDoux Hill. County Road A011 is closed south from the roadblock approximately 1.5 miles from 518.

Lake Isabel is closed to the public.

Power Outages: Power has been shut down in some evacuated areas. Lines will be re-energized when conditions are safe for fire personnel and law enforcement.

LIVESTOCK OWNERS: If you have livestock within the evacuation zone, contact NM State Police Dispatch at 505-425-6771 to coordinate a safe escort to your property to feed your animals. Do not enter the evacuation area un-escorted.
 
Property Losses: Damage and loss assessments are still underway. Notifications will be made to residents as soon as possible. We know this process is difficult for so many members of our community, and we are grateful for your patience.
 
County Fire Restrictions: All open burning (burning of crop land, fields, range land, debris, burning slash piles, prescribed burning or weed burning) in San Miguel County, shall be banned throughout the unincorporated areas of the County, and the provisions of SMC Ordinance 03-9-99ORD are in effect.  This ban shall prohibit any person from having, causing, starting, igniting and/or using open flame outside of a building, structure, automobile or other enclosed area anywhere, throughout the unincorporated portions of San Miguel County.
 
Shelter sites:
San Miguel County: Old Memorial Middle School gym, Legion St. Las Vegas, 505-429-0336
Mora County: Penasco High School gym, 13 Old School Road- Melissa Sandoval- 575-779-3057  
Taos County Agricultural Center- 202 Chamisa Rd., Can accept small household pets
Taos Youth and Family Center 407 Paseo del Canon

Shelter site for horses and livestock: The Zamora arena continues to be utilized to temporarily house evacuated horses and livestock.  The contact for livestock and horses is Matthew Romero, Livestock Inspector, 575-643-6805.
 
Link to Ready, Set Go, Wildland Fire Action Guide: https://cms6.revize.com/revize/sanmiguelcounty/FINAL-new-mexico-RSG-guide-2017_000.pdf
Updates will be posted on San Miguel County OEM, Sheriff and Fire Facebook pages.

Air Quality Alert for Mora County - through Friday afternoon -

...AIR QUALITY ALERT...

The following message is transmitted at the request of the New Mexico Departments of Health and Environment.

* WHAT...Smoke from several large wildfires burning over northern New Mexico will be transported to the north and northeast through early Wednesday afternoon. Reduced visibilities may be encountered along I-25 corridor between Las Vegas and Springer as well as New Mexico State Road 518.

* WHERE...Smoke will continue spreading across much of Mora County. Some areas that will see smoke impacts include Mora, Sapello, Las Vegas Watrous, Wagon Mound, Ocate, and La Cueva.

* WHEN...This afternoon through early Friday afternoon.

* IMPACTS...Those with conditions such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, interstitial lung disease, lung cancer, and heart disease will be especially vulnerable to impacts from poor air quality, as will adults over age 65, young children, and pregnant women if smoke concentrations become unhealthy.

* HEALTH INFORMATION...Remember, your eyes are your best tools to determine if it is safe to be outside. Use the 5-3-1 Method available at https://nmtracking.org/environment/air/FireAndSmoke.html.

If visibility is:

Under 5 miles, the air quality is unhealthy for young children, adults over age 65, pregnant women, and people with heart and/or lung disease, asthma or other respiratory illness. Outdoor activity should be minimized.

Around 3 miles, young children, adults over age 65, pregnant women, and people with heart and/or lung disease, asthma or other respiratory illness should avoid all outdoor activities.

Around 1 mile, the air quality is unhealthy for everyone. People should remain indoors and avoid all outdoor activities including running errands. Unless an evacuation has been issued, stay inside your home, indoor workplace, or in a safe shelter.

With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic affecting New Mexico and with the wildfire season underway, New Mexicans will need to take extra precautions. Smoke from wildfires may cause people to have more severe reactions if they are infected COVID-19. The best way to protect against the potentially harmful effects of wildfire smoke and to reduce the spread of COVID-19 is to stay home and create a clean indoor air space. NMDOH offers tips here: https://nmtracking.org/environment/air/IndoorQuality.html and https://cv.nmhealth.org .

New Mexicans will also need to take steps to keep their homes cool to avoid heat-related illnesses. NMDOH offers tips here: https://nmtracking.org/health/heatstress/Heat.html.

For smoke forecast outlooks from the Interagency Wildland Fire Air Quality Response Program please visit: https://outlooks.wildlandfiresmoke.net.

The map below provides a current evacuation status for the Cooks Peak Fire (as of 1130 am on April 28, 2022). The map is available in a .jpg and .pdf version.

Firefighters continue building line to increase containment
 Active fire behavior will continue as high winds return and temperatures increase  

Acres: 55,886 acres 
Location: North of Ocate NM, approximately 46 miles north of Las Vegas, NM
Containment: 34%
Start Date: Sunday, April 17, 2022
Cause: Human, under investigation
Fuels: ponderosa pine, oak brush and grass