Single Publication

Acres: 341,735| Containment: 93% | Total personnel: 396|
Start Date: Hermits Peak: April 6, 2022; Calf Canyon: April 19, 2022 | Cause: Hermits Peak: Spot fires from prescribed burn; Calf Canyon: Holdover fire from prescribed pile burn | Location: 12 miles NW of Las Vegas, NM | Fuels: Heavy mixed conifer, ponderosa pine, brush, and grass

Highlights: Firefighters are communicating with private landowners to better serve their specific needs while continuing to scout for areas still in need of suppression repair. Information received through the Private Land Suppression Repair Survey (now available in both English and Spanish) has been critical to guiding this important repair work. In the coming days, the incident management team expects more resources to arrive to support fire suppression repairs.

Operations: A recent aerial infrared flight showed no detectable heat signatures in the fire area. In the Pot Creek corridor, firefighters are using grading equipment to improve existing roads that have been affected by fire suppression activities. North of the fire, crews are constructing water bars along roadways to help prevent erosion. In Cleveland, Holman, and Sierra Bonita, firefighters are repairing fences and chipping cut branches and limbs to reduce any evidence of fire suppression activities. Portions of handline were also repaired near Montezuma Castle, with firefighters developing strategies to repair additional dozer lines in this area. In Gallinas Canyon, crews are removing fallen trees from drainages to help restore the natural water flow and prevent debris from travelling downstream. A significant amount of cut logs and debris have been removed from all but one mile of the Hamilton Mesa Trail to help restore the wilderness character in this area. The remaining repair work within this portion of the Pecos Wilderness should be completed over the next few days.

Closures and Restrictions: Area closures remain in effect for both the Santa Fe and Carson National Forests. These closures are in place for ongoing wildfire suppression repair operations, and to protect public health and safety in the event of debris flow and flash flooding. The wildfire suppression repair operations include, but are not limited to, hazard tree felling, road repair and stabilization, heavy equipment use, and fire line repair efforts. For the latest information about the Hermits Peak and Calf Canyon Fires closure orders for both the Santa Fe and Carson National Forests, please see the links to each forest’s website below. Information related to fire restrictions across public and private land can be found at: https://nmfireinfo.com/fire-restrictions/.

Weather: A persistent weather pattern will remain in place today, resulting in similar conditions to the past several days with a clear morning and partly cloudy afternoon. Scattered afternoon showers and storms are expected along with lightning, gusty winds, and locally heavy rainfall. High temperatures will be in the 80s at lower elevations with 70s elsewhere. Little change in the weather is expected through early next week with similar temperatures and storm chances.

Fire Flooding and Recovery Resources: Disaster assistance resources: https://www.nmdhsem.org/2022-wildfires/| After Wildfire New Mexico Guide: https://www.afterwildfirenm.org/| Hermits Peak & Calf Canyon Fires Burned Area Emergency Response: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8104/ |New Mexico State Emergency Operations Center: 1-800-432-2080.

Federal Disaster Assistance: For questions regarding damages from flooding or erosion, please contact the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362.

Private Land Suppression Repair Survey (English and Spanish): https://www.tinyurl.com/suppressionrepair

Fire Information: Office Hours: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM | Phone: 505-356-2636| Email: 2022.hermitspeak@firenet.gov

Online Fire Information Resources: inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8069/ | https://www.facebook.com/CalfCanyonHermitsPeak*| nmfireinfo.com |tinyurl.com/HermitsYouTube | Santa Fe National Forest | Carson National Forest

*Beginning July 16, the Calf Canyon and Hermits Peak Fire Facebook page will no longer be monitored. Please refer to the Santa Fe National Forest Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/santafeNF/ for future updates.