Reminder: Do Not Plan to Visit Pecos Canyon over the Fourth of July

Pecos/Las Vegas District Still Under Closure Order Due to Post-Fire Risks

SANTA FE, NM – June 30, 2022 – If you were thinking about celebrating Independence Day by camping or hiking in the Pecos Canyon corridor on the Pecos/Las Vegas Ranger District on the Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF), please think again. The popular area is still under a closure order to protect public safety during fire suppression repair and potential post-fire impacts, including flash flooding and debris flow.

Members of the public who are within the boundaries of the Pecos/Las Vegas District this weekend will be in violation of the order, a Class B misdemeanor that carries a fine of not more than $5,000 for individuals and/or imprisonment for not more than six months.

Although the Hermits Peak and Calf Canyon Fires are 93% contained, suppression repair is ongoing, and predicted weekend precipitation on the already-saturated landscape raises the risk of flash flooding and other post-fire impacts.  

The Pecos/Las Vegas District will continue to monitor conditions with the intent of opening portions of the west side of the district to the public when it is safe to do.

Current fire information for the Hermits Peak and Calf Canyon Fires is posted on these online platforms: inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8069/; https://www.facebook.com/CalfCanyonHermitsPeak; nmfireinfo.com; tinyurl.com/HermitsYouTube and Santa Fe NF.

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