InciWeb
Wildfire
Prescribed Fire
Burned Area
Response
Other
Summary: The Hermits Peak Fire began April 6 as a result of the Las Dispensas prescribed fire on the Pecos/Las Vegas Ranger District of the Santa Fe National Forest. Although forecasted weather conditions were within parameters for the prescribed fire, unexpected erratic winds in the late afternoon caused multiple spot fires that spread outside the project boundary. It was declared a wildfire at approximately 4:30 p.m. on April 6, 2022. Named the Hermits Peak Fire, the wildfire began approximately 12 miles northwest of Las Vegas, NM at the base of Hermits Peak in the Pecos Wilderness. The Hermits Peak Fire is in mixed conifer in steep, rugged terrain that poses challenges for firefighter access.
The Calf Canyon Fire was caused by a pile burn holdover from January that remained dormant under the surface through three winter snow events before reemerging in April. A holdover fire, also called a sleeper fire, is a fire that remains dormant for a considerable time.
The Hermits Peak and Calf Canyon Fires are managed as one fire. An increase in crews, engines, and heavy equipment have arrived to support and strengthen fire suppression repair efforts, mitigate impacts from flooding and reenforce existing containment lines. Working hand in hand with private landowners, fire crews are fixing fences, repairing roads, seeding, chipping, and removing vegetation with great perseverance and fortitude. As additional requests are received, crews continue to respond wherever needs are identified.
| Current as of | Tue, 10/25/2022 - 11:21 |
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| Incident Type | Wildfire |
| Cause | Multiple spot fires spread beyond the prescribed fire project boundary. |
| Date of Origin | |
| Location | 12 miles northwest of Las Vegas, NM |
| Incident Commander | Luke Helfinstine IC, Type 4 |
| Incident Description | The Hermits Peak and Calf Canyon Fires are being managed as one fire. |
| Coordinates |
35° 43' 5'' Latitude
-105° 23' 58
'' Longitude
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| Total Personnel: | 4 |
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| Size | 341,735 Acres |
| Percent of Perimeter Contained | 100% |
| Fuels Involved | Hardwood Litter Spruce/fir and ponderosa pine forest types with a significant amount of dead standing and dead and downed fuels in the under story are currently the primary fuel type. Aspen groves and scrub oak exist at mid-elevations, with pinyon-juniper and grass-shrub types at the lowest elevations. Widespread greenup has occurred |
| Significant Events | Minimal |
| Planned Actions |
Incident efforts will be focused on identifying suppression repair needs and implementing repair work throughout the |
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| Weather Concerns | Dry weather through the day Saturday. Winds will be light today, breezy Friday and windy Saturday, and strong, possibly damaging winds Sunday. especially over the mountains and onto the eastern |
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