Acres: 316,353 | Containment: 54% | Total personnel: 2,892 |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: The potential for moisture and thunderstorms continues today and Friday. While conditions are more favorable for firefighting, there is the potential for lightning that could cause new starts. Outflow winds could also affect fire behavior. Initial attack crews will be ready to address new fires if they occur. 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:
North Zone (PNW2): Firefighters focused on the west side of the fire yesterday with predominant easterly winds that transitioned to southeast in the evening. Hotshot crews were able to hold the northwest flank of the fire with no growth despite winds pushing on containment lines. Hotshot crews continued the methodical process of securing over four miles of perimeter from Angostura to Ripley Point, and another crew is working approximately 4.5 miles of fireline south from Ripley Point down to Serpent Lake. Hotshot crews are using unmanned aerial systems (UAS)–also known as “drones”—equipped with Infrared technology to assist in identifying areas of heat. With changing wind conditions, embers continue to flare up and threaten the security of the perimeter, but crews are able to pinpoint the heat source and cool the hot spots. Structure protection crew will continue to patrol the NM Highway 518 corridor, as well as the NM Highway 121 corridor from Chacon to Cleveland, mopping up hot spots and checking structures. Heavy equipment is engaged in multiple areas of the fire from chipping slash along the NM Highway 442 corridor to continuing the construction of contingency lines north of the fire area from Rio Pueblo east to Bristlecone and north to Highway 64.
South Zone (SWIMT2): Structure protection crews are working from Tres Lagunas north to Geronimo, preparing homes and infrastructure and setting up sprinkler systems. The fire is burning in steep, inaccessible terrain with heavy fuels in the Pecos Wilderness. From the Iron Gate Campground to Beatty’s Cabin, firefighters are constructing and preparing indirect firelines in anticipation of a favorable weather window to conduct strategic firing operations. The purpose of this firefighting tactic is to strengthen fireline by reducing fuels to slow and stop fire progression and keep it from impacting communities along the N.M. Hwy. 63 corridor. This tactic is always preceded by careful, strategic planning. Crews are finishing mopping up and securing the line from Bull Canyon to Elk Mountain. Today suppression repair work will begin around Barillas Peak. Repair work, including closing dozer lines, reseeding, and chipping slash, continues on the south and east fire perimeter and up Gallinas Canyon. The flare-up that occurred around Big Pine last week is now secure.
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: Moderate weather conditions continue today with higher relative humidity, more cloud cover and cooler temperatures. A slight chance of thunderstorms is forecasted, and dry lightning is possible along with localized potential for heavy rain and gusty outflow winds. Daytime temperatures will be in the mid 60s-low 70s with relative humidity between 25-70%.
Closures and Restrictions: All National Forests in New Mexico have closures or restrictions in place due to extreme fire danger. To learn more about these closures and restrictions, visit: https://tinyurl.com/bdy5y99r. Information related to fire restrictions across public and private land can be found at: https://nmfireinfo.com/fire-restrictions/.
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 |
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