April 23, 2021 
The Peterson Fire, located five miles northwest of Las Vegas, NM, in San Miguel County, remains estimated at 20 acres as of 8:00 p.m. April 23, 2021. The containment percentage is pending as management transitions from an initial attack to a Forestry Division Incident Commander. Today, firefighters stopped multiple spot fires along Highway 65 with the help of a Type 3 helicopter providing critical water drops from the air. Firefighters will continue to secure containment lines and mop-up hot spots throughout the evening. Resources include crews with the Forestry Division Las Vegas District and Returning Heroes Program, San Miguel County Fire Department, USDA Forest Service Santa Fe Hotshots, and multiple volunteer fire departments from the area.
Values at risk include the Gallinas Watershed, Peterson Reservoir, United World College, and multiple homes. Students and staff from United World College and some area residents self-evacuated as a precaution. There are no official evacuation orders in place. The San Miguel County Sheriff’s Department is assisting with traffic control. This will be the last notification for the Peterson Fire this evening unless there are significant changes.
Individuals sensitive to wildfire smoke should take precautions and use the New Mexico Department of Health 5-3-1 Visibility Method to determine if it’s safe to be outside. Learn more at
https://nmtracking.org/environment/air/FireAndSmoke.html.
Incident Name: Peterson Fire
Start Date & Time: April, 23, 2021 – 1330
Start Location: Highway 65 near the Peterson Reservoir
Cause of Fire: Under investigation
Area Vegetation: Timber, brush
Estimated Acres Burned: 20
Ownership(s): state and private
Structures Threatened: Yes
Structures Burned: No
Evacuations: Yes – voluntary only
Wendy Mason
Wildfire Prevention & Communications Coordinator
EMNRD Forestry Division
NM Fire Info 
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