INCIDENT STATISTICS:

Current Size: 45,605 Acres

Current Containment: 75%

Start Date: April 22, 2022

Cause: Unknown

Total personnel: 580

WEATHER AND FIRE BEHAVIOR:  Crews encountered strong winds and low relative humidity for the second day in a row and remain successful in keeping the fire within its perimeter. The most active fire behavior was deep in the interior in large areas of dead and down trees. Today’s weather brings cooler temperatures and higher relative humidity which will moderate fire behavior. Winds are expected to be lighter, around 8 – 13mph with gusts up to 20mph after 1:00pm. The potential for fire activity still exists as fuels in the area are extremely dry and receptive to ignition. There is potential for a weak cold front to come through Saturday night.

FIRE OPERATIONS:  On Friday crews took advantage of the lighter winds in the morning to mop up areas of heat near the fire perimeter and bolster containment lines in the northwest corner of the fire. Despite the strong afternoon winds, the fire perimeter held and there was no new growth.

Crews will continue to mop up and fortify containment lines in the upper Peralta Canyon using hose lays and hand tools. Crews will patrol the northwest corner of the fire along the 289 road to identify and extinguish any areas of heat. In the northeast area crews continue to work with resource advisors and heavy equipment for suppression repair.

Crews along the south end of the fire have encountered minimal fire activity and will begin the large task of chipping along the 266 road. They will also work with local resource advisors to begin the suppression repair effort.

Structure division continues to patrol near the homes in the Cochiti mesa area and extinguish isolated areas of heat that were exposed by the strong winds. Night division continues to patrol throughout the night and have not encountered any fire activity that would pose a threat to containment lines.

EVACUATIONS:

Sandoval County: https://www.sandovalcountynm.gov/fire-alerts/

CLOSURES:

Santa Fe National Forest Closure order:

https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/santafe/alerts-notices

Carson National Forest Closure order:

https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/carson/alerts-notices

Cibola National Forest Closure order:

https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/cibola/alerts-notices

Air Quality: Information on air quality is at New Mexico Department of Health Environmental Public Health Tracking: https://nmtracking.org/fire , and an interactive smoke map is available at https://fire.airnow.gov/.

Fire Restrictions: The Santa Fe, Carson and Cibola National Forests have implemented forest closures effective Thursday, May 19 at 8am. Stage II Fire Restrictions remain in effect for the Santa Fe National Forest, which prohibits all campfires and other hazardous activities. Due to ongoing fire threats, Sandoval County will not issue burn permits. Stage III Fire Restrictions are in effect for Pueblo de Cochiti and Los Alamos.

Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR). There is a flight restriction over the fire area and drones are also prohibited.