Cerro Pelado Fire Update Friday, May 20, 2022

                                                                                                                   

Forest Service News Release

Santa Fe National Forest

11 Forest Lane, Santa Fe, NM 87508

Website  |  Facebook  |  Twitter

Media Contacts: Julie Anne Overton 505-414-6438 (cell)

Jodi Mallozzi 702-278-3849 (cell)

SM.FS.sfnfpao@usda.gov

 

SFNF Updates Closure Order for Cerro Pelado Fire Area

SANTA FE, NM – Aug. 2, 2022 – The Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF) today issued a revised closure order to protect public health and safety during wildfire suppression repair operations and in the event of potential post-fire impacts from the Cerro Pelado Fire, including debris flow and flash flooding. The new closure order will remain in effect until rescinded or until Dec. 31, 2022, whichever comes earlier.

The closure order prohibits members of the public from entering the area described in the order and shown on the accompanying map area, including all Forest Service lands, roads and trails, within an area on the Jemez Ranger District roughly defined by Forest Roads (FR) 10 and 10H on the west, then moving south along FR 271DB, 271, 271F and 266 to the boundary with the Pueblo of Jemez, then east to FR 132, north on FR 132, 282 and 280 to NM State Highway 4 on the north.

Under the new order, FR 10, 266, 289, 268 and 280 will be open to the public. FR 4B, 270, 10Q and 266NA will remain closed.

Jemez Falls, the 70-foot waterfall on the East Fork of the Jemez River, will remain closed along with Trail 137 from the East Fork Trailhead to Jemez Falls and on to Battleship Rock. In addition, the following developed recreation sites will remain closed due to the risk of flash flooding:

  • Jemez Falls Group Site
  • Jemez Falls Picnic Area
  • Paliza Family Campground
  • Paliza Group Campground

Jemez Falls Campground is exempt from the order and will open to the public on Tuesday, Aug. 2.  Reservations for Jemez Falls Campground can be made on www.recreation.gov

Federal, state and local officers, firefighters and members of an organized rescue team, and any others authorized by Forest Service permit are exempt from the closure order.

Violation of the closure order is a Class B misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not more than $5,000 for individuals and $10,000 for organizations, imprisonment of not more than six months, or both.

The closure order and map are posted on the SFNF website, and copies are available at SFNF headquarters
and the Jemez Ranger District Office.  For additional information, please contact the Jemez Ranger District at 575-829-3535. All current closure orders are posted on the Alerts and Notices page of the website.

# # #

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.