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Calf Canyon and Hermits Peak Fires Daily Update 9 am April 25

Related Incident: Hermits Peak Fire

Publication Type: Closures Mon, 04/25/2022 - 12:00

Calf Canyon and Hermits Peak Fires

April 25, 2022, Daily Update, 09:00AM

Acres: 56,478 acres

Containment: 12%

Start Date: April 19, 2022

Cause: Under investigation

Total personnel: 733

Location: Located near Gallinas Canyon

Fuels: Mixed conifer

Highlights: Favorable weather conditions yesterday gave firefighters an opportunity to engage the fire more directly, and an influx of new resources will aid in firefighting efforts. Law enforcement will continue to assess structure loss and damage as it becomes safe to do so, and notifications to property owners will be made with assistance from county emergency managers. Powerlines within fire areas will remain uncharged until it is determined safe to re-energize them. Road closures also remain in place, including Highway 518 from Sapello north to Buena Vista. Please be aware of increased fire traffic in the area and respect all closures to keep our firefighting resources safe and allow them to work without interference. Firefighter and public safety continues to be the number one priority.

Operations: Yesterday, crews engaged the fire directly wherever it was safe to do so, with a focus on point protection to minimize impacts on homes within the fire area and other values at risk. A reduction in temperature and wind conditions assisted firefighters in gaining access to areas that were previously unsafe. Today, work will continue in protection efforts near homes and critical watershed areas, as well as securing fire perimeter lines while conditions are favorable.

Evacuations: Mandatory “GO” evacuations determined by the San Miguel County Sheriff’s Office and Mora County Sheriff’s Office remain in place in many areas, and some communities are still in “SET” and “READY” status. Evacuation status, repopulation and road closure changes will continue to be re-assessed by local law enforcement using the Ready, Set, Go! system. Please follow San Miguel County and Mora County Sheriff’s Facebook pages for the latest updates at https://www.facebook.com/smcso.nm and https://www.facebook.com/moracountysheriffoffice.

Weather: Cooler temperatures and lighter winds, along with cloud cover today will aid firefighters as they continue to secure line and protect values at risk. Smoke could impact visibility and safe access to certain areas within the fire area.

Restrictions: The Santa Fe National Forest has issued a closure order and has implemented Stage II fire restrictions to protect public health and safety during fire operations on the Calf Canyon Fire. Full closure order and map are available at https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/santafe/home. The temporary flight restriction (TFR) in place over the area was expanded to include the Gallinas Canyon area. The TFR also covers unmanned aircraft, or drones. If a private drone intrudes into the fire area, it will require a pause in all air operations and impede firefighting progress, putting firefighters at greater risk. More information on the dangers drones pose to wildland firefighting aircraft and personnel on the ground can be found at: www.nifc.gov/drones.

Smoke: Todays lower temperatures and increased moisture will reduce smoke around the Las Vegas area. Fire activity around Rociada, Pendaries, and Sapello continue today, producing unhealthy air quality conditions throughout the day as temperature rise and winds increase. Smoke will reduce visibility along portions of NM-518 and sections of I-25. Drive carefully and turn on your headlights for safety. If you do stop on the side of the road please turn on hazards or safety/emergency lights .An interactive smoke map at https://fire.airnow.gov/ allows you to zoom into your area to see the latest smoke conditions.

Future Fire Information: The Calf Canyon Fire and Hermit Peak Fire Information office hours are 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM. The phone number for fire information is 505-356-2636. The email address is 2022.calfcanyon@firenet.gov. Future fire information will continue to be posted on Inciweb, the SFNF Facebook and Twitter, SFNF website, and New Mexico Fire Information website

Calf Canyon Current Fire Evacuations 1 pm April 24

Related Incident: Hermits Peak Fire

Publication Type: Closures Sun, 04/24/2022 - 12:00

San Miguel /Mora County News Release

Calf Canyon Current Fire Evacuations

April 24, 2022 at 1:00 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 1:00 pm. Today the total combined acreage for Hermits Peak and Calf Canyon Fires is 54,004 acres. Reduced temperatures and wind speeds today will allow firefighters to make more progress. It is still imperative that residents comply with evacuation orders as citizen, fire fighter and law enforcement safety is the highest priority.

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, as well as Zone 1, as identified on the map, which includes Mora, La Cueva, El Alto, Rainsville and Guadalupita. Zone 2, as identified on the map, is in GO status as of 7:00 Sunday morning.

SET (prepare for evacuation, colored yellow): In Mora County, Watrous and Valmora are currently in SET status

READY (get ready for possible evacuation, colored red): In San Miguel, the communities of Las Dispensas, County Road A3 and Los Alamitos remain in READY status.

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 will be closed. CR A3 and CR A4A will be closed. County Road A3A remains open to fire personnel and residents only. State Roads 105, 94, 266 and 276 will be closed. State Road 518 at the 94 is closed northbound. Road blocks will be in effect. Road closures in Mora County include State Road 161 at 518, State Road 442 at 518 and State Road 94 at 518. State Road 518 is closed from La Cueva to Sapello. Mora residents are only able to evacuate on 434 to Angel Fire or 518 to Taos. County Road A011 is closed at 518. Routes to Las Vegas or I-25 aren’t accessible.

Power Outages: Power has been shut down in all 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.

If you are currently evacuated and need to have prescriptions refilled, a Red Cross nurse at the evacuation shelter can assist you. Please go to the shelter and speak to the nurse there.

Property Losses: We understand that residents are anxious to discover losses and saves; however, fire areas are still too dangerous to access for property and residence assessments. Crews are hoping that the areas will be accessible within the next few days. We know many residents are devastated by these potential losses, but please be patient and we’ll have information as soon as humanly possible.

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.

Calf Canyon and Hermits Peak Fire Update 945 am April 24

Related Incident: Hermits Peak Fire

Publication Type: News Sun, 04/24/2022 - 12:00

Calf Canyon and Hermits Peak fires combine

April 24, 2022, Daily Update, 09:00AM

Acres: 54,004 acres

Containment: 12%

Start Date: April 19, 2022

Cause: Under investigation

Total personnel: 478

Location: Located near Gallinas Canyon

Fuels: Mixed conifer

Highlights: A drop in temperatures and wind speeds allowed fire crews to gain direct access to some areas of the fire line yesterday. Law enforcement is working to assess structure loss and damage as it becomes safe to enter areas within the fire perimeter. Notifications to property owners will be made by local law enforcement. For safety reasons, power remains off in Pendaries, County Road A-3A, Rociada, Manuelitas and Canoncito. There are several road closures, including Highway 518 from Sapello north to Buena Vista. The safety of firefighters and the public remains the number one priority.

Operations: Yesterday, fire crews focused efforts on protecting homes to the northwest between Highway 518 and the fire’s edge, as well as preventing the fire from moving south into the critical watershed area. The fire continued wind-driven growth across the grasslands at high rates of speed. Today, crews will continue to engage the fire directly where it is safe to do so, with a focus on point protection to minimize impacts on homes within the fire area and other values at risk.

Evacuations: The San Miguel County Sheriff’s Office and Mora County Sheriff’s Office have issued mandatory “GO” evacuations in several areas, and many communities remain in “SET” and “READY” status. The evacuation status and road closures have changed rapidly in the last two days and continue to be assessed using the Ready, Set, Go! system. Please follow San Miguel County and Mora County Sheriff’s Facebook pages for the latest updates at https://www.facebook.com/smcso.nm and https://www.facebook.com/moracountysheriffoffice.

Weather: An expected reduction in temperature and wind speed as well as intermittent cloud cover today may provide opportunities for safer firefighter engagement. Smoke and shifting wind directions could impact visibility and access to certain areas within the fire area.

Restrictions: The Santa Fe National Forest has issued a closure order and has implemented Stage II fire restrictions to protect public health and safety during fire operations on the Calf Canyon Fire. Full closure order and map are available at https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/santafe/home. The temporary flight restriction (TFR) in place over the area was expanded to include the Gallinas Canyon area. The TFR also covers unmanned aircraft, or drones. If a private drone intrudes into the fire area, it will require a pause in all air operations and impede firefighting progress, putting firefighters at greater risk. More information on the dangers drones pose to wildland firefighting aircraft and personnel on the ground can be found at: www.nifc.gov/drones.

Smoke: Fire activity around Rociada, Pendaries, and Sapello will cause unhealthy air quality conditions in the area. West winds will produce periods of Unhealthy to Sensitive Groups quality air in the Las Vegas area at times. Moderate conditions throughout the day are expected in the Las Vegas area. Periods of blowing dust, smoke will reduce visibility along portions of NM-518. An interactive smoke map at https://fire.airnow.gov/ allows you to zoom into your area to see the latest smoke conditions.

Future Fire Information: The Calf Canyon Fire and Hermit Peak Fire Information office hours are 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM. The phone number for fire information is 505-356-2636. The email address is 2022.calfcanyon@firenet.gov. Future fire information will continue to be posted on Inciweb, the SFNF Facebook and Twitter, SFNF website, and New Mexico Fire Information website.

San Miguel Mora County NewsReleaseCalf Canyon Current Fire Evacuations

Related Incident: Hermits Peak Fire

Publication Type: Closures Sat, 04/23/2022 - 12:00

No photo description available.

Calf Canyon and Hermits Peak Update 940 am April 23

Related Incident: Hermits Peak Fire

Publication Type: News Sat, 04/23/2022 - 12:00

Calf Canyon and Hermits Peak fires combine

April 23, 2022, Daily Update, 10:00AM

Acres: 42,341 acresStart Date: April 19, 2022Cause: Under investigationTotal personnel: 419Location: Located near Gallinas CanyonFuels: Mixed conifer Highlights: Structure loss has occurred due to the extreme weather experienced yesterday that caused uncontrolled fire line that impacted communities. Firefighters and law enforcement are gaining access to the areas that are safe to do so. Damage assessments will be ongoing and when the information is gathered, residents will be contacted by the county.For safety reasons, power has been proactively shut off in Pendaries, County Road A-3A, Rociada, Manelitas and Canoncito. There are several road closures, including Highway 518 from Sapello north to Buena Vista. The safety of firefighters and the public remains the number one priority. Operations: The focus Friday was on life safety for the public during evacuations and firefighters trying to engage as safely as they were able. Fire managers coordinated with both County Sheriff’s Offices for timely notices of evacuations throughout the day. With the rapid rate of spread of the fire and limited visibility, it was very challenging to determine where the active fire was at and very difficult for firefighters to engage in this dangerous, dynamic environment. There was limited opportunity for the crews to do active structure protection due to extreme fire behavior. Today the crews will be focusing on protecting homes to the northwest between Highway 518 and the fire’s edge, as well as preventing the fire from moving south into the critical watershed area. Spotting up to a half a mile is anticipated. The fire is expected to cross 518 and burn across the grasslands at a high rate of speed as the wind is a driving factor. Due to the merging of the two fires, containment has not been able to be accurately calculated. Evacuations: The San Miguel County Sheriff’s Office and Mora County Sheriff’s Office have been working together to keep people safe and have issued mandatory “GO” evacuations, and many communities remain in “SET” and “READY” status. The evacuation status and road closures continue to be assessed and are made using the Ready, Set, Go! system. Updates will be posted on San Miguel County and Mora County Sheriff’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/smcso.nm. Weather: There is a Red Flag Warning today with mostly west winds, then turning north-northwest through the day with speeds of 20-25mph and gusts above 40mph. Southwest- West winds will sharply increase to 20-30 mph with gusts out of the west upwards of 40 mph by midday into the afternoon. Widespread wind gusts throughout the day. Restrictions: The Santa Fe National Forest has issued a closure order and has implemented Stage II fire restrictions to protect public health and safety during fire operations on the Calf Canyon Fire. Full closure order and map are available at https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/santafe/home. Temporary flight restriction (TFR) in place over the area was expanded to include the Gallinas Canyon area. The TFR also covers unmanned aircraft, or drones. More information on the dangers drones pose to wildland firefighting aircraft and personnel on the ground can be found at: www.nifc.gov/drones.

Smoke: Fire activity around Rociada, Pendaries, and Sapello will cause unhealthy air quality conditions in the area. West winds will produce periods of Unhealthy to Sensitive Groups quality air in the Las Vegas area at times. Moderate conditions throughout the day expected in the Las Vegas area. Periods of blowing dust, smoke will reduce visibility along portions of NM-518.An interactive smoke map at https://fire.airnow.gov/ allows you to zoom into your area to see the latest smoke conditions. Future Fire Information: The Calf Canyon Fire and Hermit Peak Fire Information office hours are 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM. The phone number for fire information is 505-356-2636. The email address is 2022.calfcanyon@firenet.gov. Future fire information will continue to be posted on Inciweb, the SFNF Facebook and Twitter, SFNF website, and New Mexico Fire Information website.

San Miguel and Mora County Evacuations News Release

Related Incident: Hermits Peak Fire

Publication Type: Closures Fri, 04/22/2022 - 12:00

No photo description available.

San Miguel Evacuation Update 9 pm April 21

Related Incident: Hermits Peak Fire

Publication Type: News Thu, 04/21/2022 - 12:00

No photo description available.

Smoke Outlook April 22

Related Incident: Hermits Peak Fire

Publication Type: News Fri, 04/22/2022 - 12:00

Hermits Peak Fire Update 11 am April 22

Related Incident: Hermits Peak Fire

Publication Type: News Fri, 04/22/2022 - 12:00

Extreme weather and dangerous conditions on the Hermits Peak Fire

April 22, 2022, Daily Update, 10:00AM

Acres: 7,573 acres

Start Date:  April 6, 2022

Cause: Multiple spot fires spread beyond the prescribed fire project boundary

Containment: 91%

Total personnel: 264

Location: Approx. 12 miles northwest of Las Vegas, NM, Pecos/Las Vegas Ranger District, Hermits Peak/Pecos Wilderness

Fuels: Mixed conifer

Highlights:  The National Weather Service has issued an extreme weather warning. The public is encouraged to stay vigilant on evacuation status through the San Miguel County Sheriff’s Office and be prepared to leave in a rapid manner. Due to extremely high winds, powerlines and trees may block egress in many areas. Roads will likely become congested with traffic leaving the area, and smoke will make it difficult to see. Use extreme caution on the roads.

Operations: Yesterday, crews continued working on suppression repair and control lines on all sides. Today the combination of strong winds, low relative humidity and warm temperatures will contribute to extreme fire behavior. The conditions will be very dangerous today with the extremely high wind event, and the priority is safety of the firefighters and the public. There could be downed trees or powerlines and road blockages. Crews will safely reduce ignitions and remove trees from roads for firefighters and the public with safety as the number one priority.

Evacuations: The San Miguel County Sheriff’s Office has issued mandatory “GO” evacuations as of 8:00 am Friday, 4-22-22. Due to the severity of the conditions, everyone in the area should be prepared to evacuate. The evacuation status and road closures are currently being assessed by the San Miguel County Sheriff’s Office, using the Ready, Set, Go! system. Stay tuned and alert for updated details on evacuation orders on the San Miguel County Sheriff’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/smcso.nm.

Weather: There is a High End Red Flag Warning from 9am to midnight with winds predicted in the 60-74 mph range. Temperatures will be in the upper 70s and very dry. The inversion is predicted to lift up and give higher winds the ability to come straight down. Late morning gusts should peak in the afternoon but gusts of 50-60mph are still possible up until midnight.

Restrictions: The Santa Fe National Forest has issued a closure order to protect public health and safety during fire operations on the Hermits Peak Fire. The full closure order and map are available at https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/santafe/home. The Santa Fe National Forest implemented Stage II fire restrictions today at 8:00 am. A temporary flight restriction (TFR) is in place, which includes unmanned aircraft, or drones. The TFR has been expanded to include the area around the Calf Canyon Fire. More information on the dangers drones pose to wildland firefighting aircraft and personnel on the ground can be found at: www.nifc.gov/drones.

Smoke: Smoke impacts in the area will occur in the late evening hours due to wind changes from the west. High winds and blowing dust will cause reduced visibility on roads. Areas north of the fire will see smoke increasing later in the day. Moderate to Unhealthy to Sensitive Groups conditions will continue. Smoke-sensitive individuals and people with respiratory problems or heart disease are encouraged to take precautionary measures. An interactive smoke map at https://fire.airnow.gov/ allows you to zoom into your area to see the latest smoke conditions.

Future Fire Information: The Hermits Peak Fire Information office hours are 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM. The phone number for fire information is 505-356-2636. The email address is 2022.hermitspeak@firenet.gov. Future fire information will continue to be posted on Inciweb, the SFNF Facebook and Twitter, SFNF website, and New Mexico Fire Information website

New phone number effective immediately

Related Incident: Hermits Peak Fire

Publication Type: Announcement Fri, 04/22/2022 - 12:00

The new phone number for information on the Hermits Peak fire is 505-356-2636.

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