Single Publication

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 |