Southwest Area Type 2 Incident Management Team 4 assumes command of Hermits Peak and Calf Canyon Fires

By SFNF

The Southwest Area Type 2 Incident Management Team 4, led by Incident Commander Aaron Hulburd, assumed command of the Hermits Peak and Calf Canyon Fires at 7:00 AM on Monday, July 11, 2022. Southwest Team 4 will continue the full suppression strategy implemented by Great Basin Incident Management Team 7, with an emphasis on suppression repair activities.

Operations: Although rain has intermittently slowed the progression of suppression repair, firefighters successfully completed planned repairs along Forest Road 5 from mile post 16 to Pot Creek. In this area, firefighters are cleaning and repairing culverts to improve road conditions for the future when cut logs will be hauled out of the fire area. Firefighters are helping to identify repair needs on private land, working with landowners to assess and address any remaining work. As crews complete grading and road repairs in Ledoux, other firefighters are chipping cut vegetation and repairing fences in Christmas Canyon. Afternoon rain and hail forced crews to temporarily disengage from the Hamilton Mesa Trail, with work resuming after the storm passed. Firefighters are continuing to survey and assess the fire area to locate any suppression lines that have not yet been recorded. Suppression repair on private land in the Highway 518 and 434 corridors is anticipated to take approximately two weeks to complete. Additional excavators have been ordered to repair the lines around the Iron Gate Trailhead and Grass Mountain area.

Closures and Restrictions: Area closures remain in effect for both the Santa Fe and Carson National Forests. These closures are in place for ongoing wildfire suppression repair operations, and to protect public health and safety in the event of debris flow and flash flooding. The wildfire suppression repair operations include, but are not limited to, hazard tree felling, road repair and stabilization, heavy equipment use, and fire line repair efforts. For the latest information about the Hermits Peak and Calf Canyon Fires closure orders for both the Santa Fe and Carson National Forests, please see the links to each forest’s website below. Information related to fire restrictions across public and private land can be found at: https://nmfireinfo.com/fire-restrictions/.

Weather: Showers and thunderstorms will be possible through the day with the best chances during the afternoon and evening. These storms will be slow moving and may contain heavy rainfall which could result in flash flooding. Scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms will be possible through the weekend. Temperatures will remain near seasonal normal range.

After Fire Flooding and Recovery Resources:Disaster assistance resources: https://www.nmdhsem.org/2022-wildfires/| After Wildfire New Mexico Guide: https://www.afterwildfirenm.org/|Hermits Peak & Calf Canyon Fires Burned Area Emergency Response: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8104/ |New Mexico State Emergency Operations Center: 1-800-432-2080.

Suppression Repair Property Survey: https://www.tinyurl.com/suppressionrepair

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/CalfCanyonHermitsPeak*|nmfireinfo.com |tinyurl.com/HermitsYouTube | Santa Fe National Forest | Carson National Forest

*Beginning July 16, the Calf Canyon and Hermits Peak Fire Facebook page will no longer monitored. Please refer to the Santa Fe National Forest Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/santafeNF/ for future updates.