Calf Canyon and Hermits Peak Fires – April 25, 2022

April 25, 2022, Daily Update, 09:00AM

Highlights: Favorable weather conditions yesterday gave firefighters an opportunity to engage the fire more directly, and an influx of new resources will aid in firefighting efforts.  Law enforcement will continue to assess structure loss and damage as it becomes safe to do so, and notifications to property owners will be made with assistance from county emergency managers. Powerlines within fire areas will remain uncharged until it is determined safe to re-energize them. Road closures also remain in place, including Highway 518 from Sapello north to Buena Vista. Please be aware of increased fire traffic in the area and respect all closures to keep our firefighting resources safe and allow them to work without interference. Firefighter and public safety continues to be the number one priority.

Operations:  Yesterday, crews engaged the fire directly wherever it was safe to do so, with a focus on point protection to minimize impacts on homes within the fire area and other values at risk. A reduction in temperature and wind conditions assisted firefighters in gaining access to areas that were previously unsafe. Today, work will continue in protection efforts near homes and critical watershed areas, as well as securing fire perimeter lines while conditions are favorable.

Evacuations: Mandatory “GO” evacuations determined by the San Miguel County Sheriff’s Office and Mora County Sheriff’s Office remain in place in many areas, and some communities are still in “SET” and “READY” status. Evacuation status, repopulation and road closure changes will continue to be re-assessed by local law enforcement using the Ready, Set, Go! system. Please follow San Miguel County and Mora County Sheriff’s Facebook pages for the latest updates at https://www.facebook.com/smcso.nm and https://www.facebook.com/moracountysheriffoffice.

Weather: Cooler temperatures and lighter winds, along with cloud cover today will aid firefighters as they continue to secure line and protect values at risk. Smoke could impact visibility and safe access to certain areas within the fire area.

Restrictions: The Santa Fe National Forest has issued a closure order and has implemented Stage II fire restrictions to protect public health and safety during fire operations on the Calf Canyon Fire. Full closure order and map are available at https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/santafe/home. The temporary flight restriction (TFR) in place over the area was expanded to include the Gallinas Canyon area. The TFR also covers unmanned aircraft, or drones. If a private drone intrudes into the fire area, it will require a pause in all air operations and impede firefighting progress, putting firefighters at greater risk. 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: Todays lower temperatures and increased moisture will reduce smoke around the Las Vegas area. Fire activity around Rociada, Pendaries, and Sapello continue today, producing unhealthy air quality conditions throughout the day as temperature rise and winds increase. Smoke will reduce visibility along portions of NM-518 and sections of I-25. Drive carefully and turn on your headlights for safety. If you do stop on the side of the road please turn on hazards or safety/emergency lights .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 Calf Canyon Fire and Hermit Peak Fire Information office hours are 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM.  The phone number for fire information is 505-356-2636. The email address is 2022.calfcanyon@firenet.gov. Future fire information will continue to be posted on Inciweb, the SFNF Facebook and Twitter, SFNF website, and New Mexico Fire Information website.