Updated 10:32 a.m. MDT May 3, 2022
In spite of satellite photos showing massive amounts of smoke being generated by the Calf Canyon / Hermits Peak Fire, information released by the incident management team indicated that firefighters were able to make progress in several key areas of the fire on Monday. Large firing operations were conducted to widen fire lines and remove fuels ahead of a wind shift that could threaten communities.
The fire grew Monday to 145,854 acres, an increase of about 25,000 acres.
In addition to other aircraft, three DC-10 Very Large Air Tankers worked the fire Monday, dropping a total of nearly 28,000 gallons of retardant.
Structure protection crews have been removing fuels around buildings and securing lines around populated areas.
A Red Flag Warning is in effect Tuesday for nearly the entire state of New Mexico. The weather forecast is for 25 mph winds gusting out of the southwest at 37 mph with relative humidity of 12 percent. There is a slight chance of showers in the afternoon. On Wednesday the wind speeds will decrease to 20 mph from the west with the minimum humidity remaining at 12 percent.
A zoomable evacuation map is available online.
Below are maps of the north and south sides of the Calf Canyon / Hermits Peak Fire.
Resources assigned Monday evening included 20 hand crews, 14 helicopters, and 89 fire engines for a total of 1,085 personnel.
8:36 a.m. MDT May 2, 2022
Winds gusting to 30 mph Sunday caused the Calf Canyon / Hermits Peak Fire to spread significantly Sunday prompting additional evacuations. The wind direction recorded at a portable weather station north of the fire was not consistent, out of the southeast in the morning then from the southwest in the afternoon before becoming variable after 11 p.m. out of the south, west, and northwest. Combined with single-digit humidity, the winds pushed the fire to the north, northeast, and east.
The blaze has burned 120,653 acres 23 miles east of Santa Fe, New Mexico and as of 3 a.m. Monday was just a few miles northwest of Las Vegas, New Mexico.
Sunday afternoon and into the night the fire made a significant run on the northwest side toward Highway 518 in the Cleveland and Mora area. Firefighters used dozers to construct fire line in an attempt to protect structures. On the east side it spread northeast near Las Tusas and Sapello and reached Highway 94 just west of Highway 518. The Operations Section Chief said most of the homes in those areas had been prepped by firefighters and some had been equipped with sprinklers.
The southeast side of the fire was also very active Sunday night along Highway 65 between Gallinas and Hot Springs west of Storrie Lake.
Sunday at 3 p.m. the wind speeds increased to the point where all aircraft were shut down.
“The last large helicopter that was up flying actually pushed his limits a little bit, got into some pretty severe turbulence, was a little concerned about getting back,” said Operations Section Chief Todd Abel in a Sunday evening briefing. “He made it safely, no issues, no problem. I just wanted to share that with you about how bad the wind was out there today.”
Fire officials said 118 homes have been destroyed. The Calf Canyon and Hermits Peak Fires burned together on April 23.
As of Sunday evening resources working on the fire included 18 hand crews, 60 fire engines, and 13 helicopters for a total of 1,052 personnel.
To see all articles on Wildfire Today about the Calf Canyon and Hermits Peak Fires, including the most recent, click HERE.
The Southwest Geographic Area Incident Management Team #2 assumed command of the fire Sunday morning, relieving SW Team #1.
Evacuations
The rapid spread of the fire Sunday prompted additional evacuations. The evacuation map below is difficult to interpret, however, there is a version online that allows zooming in, making it much more useful. It should be up to date in the very dynamic environment.
Weather forecast
A Red Flag Warning is in effect for the fire area on Monday, with a Fire Weather Watch for Tuesday. The Monday morning forecast calls for the wind to gust at 31 mph out of the northwest, slowing to 15 mph in the afternoon from the west with 11 percent relative humidity. Tuesday afternoon the winds will be very strong, gusting at 33 mph from the southwest with 11 percent RH.
Can you advise status of Western Life Camp, located in Gallinas Canyon?
Dear Frank, do you know if UWC survived the onslaught overnight? I know the students are evacuated to Glorieta but my alumni daughter and son-in-law are worried. Listening to the incident command ,it seems as if they were protecting structures as they could. All bets could be off, now that the wind is so severe. thank you and stay safe, Kate in Santa Fe
Just evacuated to Glorieta Conference Center. Know faculty from UWC and they say students have adjusted. I worked at UWC back in the 80’s. In the dining hall last evening, they sounded just like the energetic, happy group I remember working with a few decades ago, and most recently in a community service. There might even be less anxiety than I remember in the dining hall before IB’s. Those will start tomorrow.
Prayers for the safety of all Fire personnel and residents.