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.

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.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  July 8, 2022

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.

Acres: 341,735| Containment: 93% | Total personnel: 391| 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

Highlights: The Hermits Peak and Calf Canyon Fires are no longer split into two zones and are now being managed as one fire by Great Basin Incident Management Team 7 under Incident Commander Mike Johnston.

Crews are working on the northern part of the fire cleaning ditches and repairing roads used during suppression. Work with landowners continues, fixing fences that were cut during suppression operations, chipping brush, repairing roads, and removing debris from roadways and waterways around Mora, Holman, Guadalupita, Chacon, and along NM Highways 518 and 434 corridors.

Resources continue to repair hand and dozer line on the west side of the fire. Excavators in the southern portion of the fire remain busy repairing dozer line. On the east side of the fire area, a 20‐person hand crew along with overhead staff are continuing to scout, validate, and repair areas that have been identified through the ‘Suppression Repair Form.’ Personnel continue to scout areas across the fire and will work on repair when safe to access. Personnel are also identifying suppression repairs which will be done at a later time.

Firefighters assigned to the incident are available to assist the local unit on any new fire starts in the area. Fire resources will continue to be released from the incident due to the reduction in fire activity.

Closures and Restrictions: Area closures remain in place 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 National Forest and Carson National Forest, please see the links to each forest’s websites below. Information related to fire restrictions across public and private land can be found at: https://nmfireinfo.com/fire‐restrictions/.

Weather: A chance for moisture this weekend remains with a potential uptick on Saturday followed by a drier day on Sunday. Another surge of moisture will increase chances again next week. The overall threat for widespread flooding and debris flow remains low but would increase greatly should a strong, slow‐moving storm move over a high‐severity burn area.

After Fire Flooding and Recovery Resources: For disaster assistance resources: https://www.nmdhsem.org/2022‐ wildfires/| 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/ |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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  July 7, 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 San Miguel County in northeastern New Mexico until 4:00 PM, MDT.  

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  July 7, 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 Northwestern San Miguel County in northeastern New Mexico until 4:00 PM, MDT.  

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