InciWebSingle Publication
Settings - change map background and toggle additional layers
Filter - control incident types displayed on map.
Zoom to your location
Reset map zoom and position
Could not determine your location.
Show Legend
Wildfire
Prescribed Fire
Burned Area
Response
Other
Cooks Peak Afternoon Update for April 22, 2022
Cooks Peak
Publication Type: News 04/22/2022
Strong winds Hampering Firefighting Efforts, Evacuations orders Updated
Afternoon Update 4/22/2022
Acres: 28,217 acres - Infrared Flight last night
Location: North of Ocate NM, approximately 46 miles north of Las Vegas, NM
Containment: 0%
Start Date: Sunday, April 17, 2022
Cause: Unknown, under investigation
Fuels: ponderosa pine, oak brush and grass
Evacuations: At approximately 2:00 p.m. on April 22, 2022, the Colfax County Sheriff’s Department issued GO notifications for the community of Miami and the Philmont Scout Ranch. Current evacuation status for Mora and Colfax Counties are: Colfax County - GO- Miami, Sweetwater, Rayado, and Sunnyside – evacuate now! SET – Cimarron. Residents in Colfax County should sign up now for Code Red. This system notifies residents of evacuation status. For notifications, sign up on the Colfax County website: http://www.co.colfax.nm.us/government/emergency_management.php Mora County – GO: east of County Road 009 and north of NM Highway 120. Ready: west of County Road 009 and north of Highway 120. These changes have occurred because of fire movement overnight and the predicted weather and extreme fire behavior expected today.
Evacuation centers are set up at Old Memorial Middle School, 947 Old National Rd, Las Vegas; Colfax County Fairgrounds, 16 Airport Road, Springer; and the Raton Convention Center, 901 S. 3rd St, Raton. 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: Ready!: Be Ready! for potential evacuations. Set!: Be Set! to evacuate at a moment’s notice Go!: Evacuate now. Leave immediately. The Cooks Peak Fire is moving rapidly being driven by high winds. Evacuation status can change rapidly, and there may not be sufficient time to prepare to evacuate.
Livestock: Residents can evacuate livestock to the Colfax County Fairgrounds. If residents from Mora need a place for horses, the Taos Rodeo Grounds is available. Contact: Livestock Inspector Ruben Baca 505-770-1490.
Fire Information: There has been a new public phone line established to answer calls regarding the Cooks Peak Fire. Please contact 505-357-0683, between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.
Fire Update: Extreme fire behavior caused by gusty winds have pushed the fire to the north, east, and west, causing the new evacuation orders. Additional firefighters and equipment are being ordered.
Weather: A Red Flag Warning has been issued from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Today will be a critical fire weather day, with high winds. Winds are expected to reach gusts of up to 65 mph, and be erratic, causing concerns for firefighter and public safety.
Highway Closures: The Cooks Peak Fire has closed County Road 009 and a portion of NM120, from milepost 14-26, and at the junction of highway 442 and 120. Motorists are advised to delay travel or to seek alternate routes. Visit https://nmroads.com/mapIndex.html? for additional information.
Smoke: Smoke from the Cooks Peak Fire will continue to impact the surrounding communities, including Ocate, Rayado, Philmont Scout Ranch headquarters, Cimarron, and surrounding communities in Mora and Colfax counties. Exercise caution as smoke may impact I-25 as winds increase. An interactive smoke map can be found at https://fire.airnow.gov/ allows you to zoom into your area to see the latest smoke conditions.
Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8066/
New Mexico Fire information: https://nmfireinfo.com/