Calf Canyon and Hermits Peak Fire Update May 29th, 2022
Acres: 314,750 | Containment: 50% | Total personnel: 3,001
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: Located near Gallinas Canyon | Fuels: Heavy mixed conifer, ponderosa pine, brush, and grass
Highlights: A Red Flag Warning remains in effect today for critical fire weather, including low relative humidity and winds gusting up to 50 mph. This could increase fire behavior across the fire area and produce a visible smoke column. Firefighters continue to hold and patrol lines across the fire to prevent escape and defend structures in areas with active heat. Please use caution when traveling through the fire area this weekend as there will be heavy fire traffic in addition to visitors for the holiday. Residents of San Miguel, Mora, Taos, Colfax and Santa Fe Counties should remain on high alert for changes to evacuation statuses and road closures.
North Zone (PNW2): Aircraft was grounded much of yesterday due to forecasted high winds. Fire activity increased in the dry and windy conditions while firefighters patrolled the perimeter. Much of yesterday’s increased fire behavior and smoke was due to unburned islands of fuel within the fire perimeter. Structure protection crews worked to hold and secure the northern edge of the fire near Angostura on the west side of NM Highway 518. Crews worked along NM Highway 121 from Chacon down to Holman to hold and secure the perimeter. Pacific Northwest Team 2 assumed command of the North Zone of the fire at 7:00 a.m. this morning. Operations will remain the same, although fire managers have shifted additional resources to the Chacon Canyon area in anticipation of the forecasted wind event continuing through Monday. Night operations continue along the fire perimeter to monitor activity throughout the night.
South Zone (CAIIMT5): Yesterday the Operations Section Chief reported that firefighters made good progress on the southwest perimeter securing the containment line from Apache Canyon to Ruidoso Ridge. Crews also made good progress in Calf Canyon reducing the threat to homes and property. Active fire was observed in the Pecos Wilderness near Spring Mountain.
Today will be another critical fire weather day with low humidity and increased winds. The priority continues to be in Calf Canyon where firefighters are reinforcing containment lines and protecting structures. Firefighters will also be patrolling the southwest perimeter from Barillas Peak to East Bull Creek extinguishing any burning vegetation and looking for hotspots that may threaten containment lines. Crews continue to work in the wilderness constructing indirect line to contain the fire.
Evacuations: Scan the QR code or 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
The Ready, Set, Go evacuation guide is available in English and Spanish here: https://tinyurl.com/RSGNM
Weather: A Red Flag Warning is in effect from 9 am Sunday morning through 11 pm Sunday evening, Minimum relative humidity values will be between 5 and 10%. Daytime temperatures will hold steady in the mid 70s-near 80. Winds will ramp up, becoming southwesterly at 25 to 30 mph with gusts to 50 mph. Wind gusts up to 55 mph 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/
Original source can be found here.
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