Single Publication

Acres: 7,371 acres

Start Date:  April 6, 2022

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

Containment: 46%

Total personnel: 527

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

Fuels: Mixed conifer

A virtual community meeting was held at 8PM last night on  Santa Fe National Forest Facebook page. If you missed it the video recording is available at https://www.facebook.com/santafeNF/

Highlights: Fire activity increased along the northern edge of the fire perimeter Friday and Saturday. This became the most active area on the fire and the focus of firefighting efforts. The team deployed a drone for backfiring operations which created a defensible space for firefighters to protect communities and mitigate extreme fire behavior. Fire activity around most of the perimeter remains low with heightened activity along the northern edge. Firefighters patrolled this northern area to ensure that the fire stays within the current footprint. Firefighter and public safety remain our number one priority. We are focused on suppressing the Hermits Peak Fire as quickly and safely as possible and protecting nearby communities.

Operations: Firefighters continue to build containment around the fire increasing to 46% yesterday and through the evening. Fire behavior has moderated though there is still potential for increased activity today due to dry winds and dry fuels. As the winds moderate, firefighting aircraft are available and flying to support operations on the ground with water drops and reconnaissance flights.

Evacuations: The San Miguel County Sheriff’s Office continues to lift several evacuation orders using the Ready, Set, Go! system. For more information and details on evacuation orders, please direct the public to the link above. San Ignacio, County Road A3A, Canoncito and Pendaries Village are still in GO, mandatory evacuation status.

Weather: A Red Flag Warning remains in effect over the fire area for the 8th consecutive day. Warmer temperatures are expected, and winds are expected to be sustained 30-40 mph. Relative humidity will remain in the single digits, with very little recovery overnight. 

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. A temporary flight restriction (TFR) is in place over the area, which includes 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: Smoke from the Hermits Peak Fire may be visible from Gallinas, El Porvenir, San Pablo, Mineral Hill, San Geronimo, Gascon, Pendaries, Rociada, Mora, Ledoux, Las Vegas, and along the I-25 corridor. 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 (8:00 AM – 8:00 PM), phone number (505-663-6334), and email address (2022.hermitspeak@firenet.gov) will remain the same after the transition to the Type 1 Team. Future fire information will continue to be posted on https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8049/, the SFNF Facebook and Twitter, SFNF website, and New Mexico Fire Information website.