Southwest IMT Team 3 Assumes Command of the Calf Canyon Fire

August 8, 2022 – Calf Canyon Fire Update

Acres: 341,735| Containment: 98% | Total personnel: 395|Start Date: Hermits Peak: April 6, 2022; Calf Canyon: April 19, 2022 | Cause: Hermits Peak: Spot fires from prescribed burn; Calf Canyon: Holdover fire from prescribed pile burn | Location: 12 miles NW of Las Vegas, NM | Fuels: Heavy mixed conifer, ponderosa pine, brush, and grass

Highlights: Southwest Incident Management Team 3 led by Lance Elmore assumed command of the Calf Canyon Fire Sunday, August 7, 2022, at 6:00 pm.  

Operations: Flash flood warnings continue to be issued daily as thunderstorms produce heavy rain over the fire area.  Wet soils will hinder repair operations and cause additional damage.  Crews and equipment being used are continually assessing the soil conditions to minimize damage and if necessary, working at alternate locations where soil conditions are more favorable or to areas where the potential for flooding is reduced.  Team 3 is focused on assessing suppression repair needs and implementing repair work, but the safety of firefighters, incident support personnel and the public are our number one priority. 

Closures and Restrictions: Closures continue to be evaluated with public and firefighter safety being the primary concern. Monsoon weather patterns and completion of suppression repair activities play a part in the decision to lift closure orders. Stay informed to changing conditions by accessing https://nmfireinfo.com/fire-restrictions/ or the respective forests’ websites listed below.

Weather: Clear morning skies yesterday allowed for initiation of storms over the high terrain in the late morning and early afternoon hours. Storms favored the high terrain, remaining stationary before increasing coverage eastward. High temperatures hit near normal while prevailing winds were primarily out of the south. High pressure will reform over the Four Corners today and a backdoor front will dip into the northeastern plains. This will help to inspire scattered to numerous thunderstorms over the burn are in the afternoon. 

Fire Flooding and Recovery Resources: 2022 Wildland Fires Resources Hotline: https://www.nmdhsem.org/2022- wildfires/| After Wildfire New Mexico Guide: https://www.afterwildfirenm.org/ | Hermits Peak and Calf Canyon Fires Burned Area Emergency Response: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8104/

For questions or concerns related to flooding, please call the New Mexico State Emergency Operations Center at 1-800-432-2080. For federal disaster with fire or flood damage to your primary residence, please call the FEMA Helpline at 1-800-621-3362.

Private Land Suppression Repair Survey (English and Spanish): https://www.tinyurl.com/suppressionrepair. Call 720-417-8048 for assistance in English, or 505-398-3889 for assistance in Spanish.

Fire Information: Office Hours: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM | Phone: 505-356-2636| Email: 2022.hermitspeak@firenet.gov

Online Fire Information Resources: inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8069/ | https://www.facebook.com/santafeNF/| nmfireinfo.com |Santa Fe National Forest Twitter | tinyurl.com/HermitsYouTube | Santa Fe National Forest | Carson National Forest