Cooks Peak Fire Update – Saturday May 7, 2022

Email: 2022.cookspeak@firenet.gov 

Cooks Peak Fire Update 

Update 5/07/2022 

Location: North of Ocate NM, approximately 46 miles north of Las Vegas, NM 

Fire Update:  Today, increasing wind, higher temperatures and lower air moisture will contribute to pockets of fuels burning out and increased smoke.  Crews continue to mop up the fire perimeter and work the unsecured fireline along the northwest edge.  Beginning today, several days of Red Flag Warnings are forecasted due to dry weather and winds. Forecasts call for sustained 35 mph winds with gusts up to 55 mph. Yesterday, the fire showed minimal fire behavior as interior pockets of heat continue to diminish. Extremely dry fuel has expedited consumption of fuels. The incident resources will also support local resources in any new starts in the vicinity of the fire. Suppression repair will continue where needed and specialists are assessing the fire for additional rehabilitation actions. 

Road Access Update: New Mexico Highway 120 from mile marker 26 to 3 miles west of Ocate is now open.  However, State Road 21 from Polo Ranch to Cimarron is open to local traffic only and remains closed to through traffic. Visit https://nmroads.com/mapIndex.html for additional information.  

Mora County residents previously in the Cooks Peak Fire evacuation footprint may now be under Calf Canyon/Hermit’s Peak evacuation status. Mora county residents should refer to the Mora County sheriff https://www.facebook.com/moracountysheriffoffice and Calf Canyon/Hermit’s Peak Fire Information https://www.facebook.com/santafeNF for the most current evacuation status.   

The Mora and Colfax County Sheriff’s Offices are using the Ready! Set! Go! program for evacuation status that provides information on evacuation and evacuation preparation.  

Fire Restrictions: The New Mexico State Forester has implemented statewide fire restrictions.  Smoking, fireworks, campfires, open burning and open fires are prohibited. For more information see  https://www.emnrd.nm.gov/sfd/forestry-news/  The Bureau of Land Management, Farmington District has also implemented fire restrictions.  Fireworks, campfires, smoking and operating machinery, including off road OHV use are restricted.  Visit https://www.blm.gov/programs/public-safety-and-fire/fire-and-aviation/regional-info/new-mexico/fire-restrictions for details. 

More Information on fires in Colfax and Mora Counties: 

Inciweb:  Cooks Peak:  https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8066/ 

Inciweb:  Calf Canyon/Hermits Peak:  https://inciweb.nwcg/incident/8069 

New Mexico Fire information: https://nmfireinfo.com/ 

Smoke Outlook: https://outlooks.wildlandfiresmoke.net/outlook/b335b9f4 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CooksPeakFireInfo/  

Evacuations: https://www.facebook.com/moracountysheriffoffice/  

Colfax County:  http://www.co.colfax.nm.us/government/sheriff_s_department.php