May 18, 2022, Daily Update, 08:00AM

Acres: 301,971| Containment: 34% | Total personnel: 1,958

Start Date: Hermits Peak: April 6, 2022; Calf Canyon: April 19, 2022 | Cause: Hermits Peak: Spot fires from prescribed burn; Calf Canyon: Under investigation | Location: Located near Gallinas Canyon Fuels: Heavy mixed conifer, ponderosa pine, brush, and grass

Highlights: The Hermits Peak and Calf Canyon Fires have been divided into three zones: East Zone, West Zone and South Zone. Southwest Area Incident Management Team 1 will have command of the West Zone, which includes Taos County, and Mora County west of the NM Highway 434 corridor to the San Miguel County Line. California Incident Management Team 2 (CAIMT2) has now taken command of the East Zone of the fire. This area roughly encompasses the affected area of Colfax County and Mora County east of the 434 corridor, south to the San Miguel County line. Southwest Area Incident Management Team 3 (SWAIMT3) is in command of the South Zone, which consists of the fire area within San Miguel County. Residents of San Miguel, Mora, Taos, and Colfax Counties should remain on high alert for changes to evacuation statuses and road closures.

Operations:

West Zone (SWIMT1): Crews, heavy equipment and aircraft continue work on the northwest corner of the fire. Yesterday, there was active fire south of Angostura, but focused efforts along NM Highway 518 toward the junction with CR 75, in the Taos Canyon area and near Chacon helped limit fire spread along lines in the West Zone. Firefighters continue to address areas of heat along the western edge. The West Zone includes the areas west of Mora, Holman, Cleveland, Ledoux and other communities west of the 434 corridor. Resources remain actively engaged in these areas.

East Zone (CAIMT2): Yesterday, firefighters made significant progress on the north and northeast portions of the fire, adding additional containment line and working to cool hot spots along the fire’s perimeter. Today, fire resources will work to connect existing fireline north to the Luna Fire (2020) burn scar and will continue constructing fireline towards Angel Fire and throughout the East Zone. Contingency planning will continue for areas north of Highway 64.

South Zone (SWIMT3): Monday afternoon rain provided a small amount of precipitation over the fire’s south zone, temporarily diminishing fire activity. Crews worked directly on the fireline in the Pecos River corridor and along the west perimeter to reestablish previously compromised contingency lines. A third structure protection group has been created to address increased needs in the Pecos Valley corridor and nearby communities. Crews on the east perimeter observed minimal fire activity while continuing to patrol, monitor fire lines, and recover equipment. The fire in the wilderness continues but has been slowed by the Trampas Fire burn scar and rocky terrain.

Evacuations: Scan the QR code or go to tinyurl.com/HermitsPeak for the evacuation map and follow: San Miguel County Sheriff’s Office Facebook: facebook.com/smcso.nm

Mora County Sheriff’s Office Facebook: facebook.com/moracountysheriffoffice

Taos County Sheriff’s Office Facebook: facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064642843163

Weather: Partly cloudy in the morning with a cold front pushing south across the eastern plains. Becoming mostly cloudy with scattered thunderstorms developing after noon. Winds will be west-southwest at 12-18 mph with gusts to 27 mph across the higher exposed areas, east-northeast 7-11 mph through 9 AM, becoming south-southeast 12-15 mph with gusts to 20 mph for the valleys and sheltered areas. High temperatures will be in the upper 60s and 70s. Minimum relative humidity in the 10-15 % range.

Restrictions: Carson National Forest Camino Real Ranger District closure order and map: fs.usda.gov/alerts/carson/alerts-notices. Santa Fe National Forest Pecos/Las Vegas Ranger District closure order and map: fs.usda.gov/detail/santafe/alerts- notices/?cid=stelprd3802009. BLM New Mexico Fire Restrictions https://tinyurl.com/BLMNewMexico.

Smoke: An interactive smoke map at fire.airnow.gov/ allows you to zoom into your area to see the latest smoke conditions.

Fire Information: Fire Information Office Hours: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM | Phone: 505-356-2636 | Email: 2022.hermitspeak@firenet.gov Online: inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8069/ | facebook.com/CalfCanyonHermitsPeak | nmfireinfo.com/