Cooks Peak Fire – Mora County – April 19, 2022

The Cooks Peak Fire, located on private land north of Ocate in Mora County, remains estimated at 2,209 acres and 0% containment. Aircraft was able to drop water and fire retardant on the fire’s southern flank and at the head of the fire. There will be a Red Flag warning for the fire area today (04/19) from noon until 9:00 p.m. Smoke from the Cooks Peak Fire will continue to impact the surrounding communities, especially in northeast New Mexico. This includes Ocate, Rayado, Philmont Scout Ranch headquarters, Cimarron, and surrounding communities in Mora County and Colfax County. 

• The New Mexico Department of Health and New Mexico Environment Department will issue Smoke Advisories as needed. An interactive smoke map at https://fire.airnow.gov/ allows you to zoom into your area to see the latest smoke conditions.
• An evacuation order for County Road C009 remains in place.
• A Type 3 Incident Management Team will be taking over operations of the Cooks Peak Fire in the coming days.
• Approximately 100 personnel are currently assigned to the fire.

Evacuation Center: Evacuees may utilize Memorial Middle School in Las Vegas, 1236 5th St.
Mora County is working with the Red Cross to coordinate assistance.

Livestock: The Zamora Arena is available for evacuated livestock. Take Airport Road, CR C53A, 4 miles north of Las Vegas. Contact Matthew Romero, Livestock Inspector, at 575-643-6805 for more information.

Closures: County Road A023 in Mora and CR009 to Canada Bonita remain closed.

Fire information will be posted to the following websites.

NM Fire Info: www.nmfireinfo.com

InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8061/

tart Date & Time: 4/17/22 @ 1615

Start Location: Ocate off of HWY 120 Canada Bonita

Latitude: 36.24352

Longitude: -105.03793

Cause of Fire:  Under investigation

Area Vegetation: Grass, pinon, juniper, ponderosa pine, and mixed conifer

Estimated Acres Burned: 2,209

Ownership(s): Private

Structures Threatened: Yes

Structures Burned: No

Evacuations: Yes, County Road C009

Wendy Mason
Wildfire Prevention & Communications Coordinator
Energy, Minerals & Natural Resources Dept. (EMNRD)
Forestry Division
wendy.mason@state.nm.us