UPDATE 1 – 4/10/2022, Sunday

The HERMITS PEAK FIRE is located at the base of Hermit Peak, about 12 miles northwest of Las Vegas, New Mexico, in the Pecos/Las Vegas Ranger District of the Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF).

The steep and rugged terrain will be one of several challenges firefighters will face during this incident.

ALERT! Voluntary Evacuation Order in Effect

Evacuations for communities of San Ignacio, Las Dispensas, and Pendaries are in effect, at the direction of the San Miguel County Sheriff’s Office.

High risk structures that are risk are the Gallinas Municipal Watershed and privately-owned inland structures.

ALERT! RED FLAG WARNING in Effect

A RED FLAG WARNING is in effect until 2000 hours (8pm) this evening.

ALERT! TFR Alert in Effect

The unauthorized use of unmanned aircraft (also known as “drones”) in a fire area endangers the lives of pilots and firefighters and is strictly forbidden. Never fly unmanned aircraft over or near a wildfire whether there is a TFR (Temporary Flight Restriction) in effect or not. Visit  https://www.nifc.gov/drones  and Know Before You Go for more information on drones and wildfires.

Its cause was due to multiple spot fires escaping its containment lines from the original prescribed fire (RX Fire).

At 1630 hours on April 6th, fire officials deemed it escaping its barrier. Though weather conditions were ideal for today’s burn, unexpected erratic wind gusts were not forecasted but have caused multiple spot fires.

The current size is about 540 acres in dense and overgrown mixed-conifer. There is a 10% containment status. Fire behavior is active with short crown runs, group torching, spotting, backing, and flanking.

Starting on Monday, April 11, 2022, AZ’s Team 4, a Type 2 IMT will take command over the fire from the Northern NM, a Type 3 IMT. The Northern NM team will continue using a full suppression strategy, especially during the high wind period to engage the fire.

Another challenge facing fire crews are the inaccessibility by apparatus or vehicles into the area and working tirelessly to keep the fire from spreading into the Beaver Creek area and by keeping it out of the watershed. They will continue to work by securing the fire’s edge and strengthening the indirect fire line along the Forest boundary.

Resources assigned to this incident include:

  • Hotshots: 4
  • Crews: 1 Type 2 IA
  • Engines: 8
  • Helicopters: 1 Type 1, 1 Type 2, 1 Type 3
  • Module: 1 Rapid Extraction Module
  • Water Tender: 1 Tactical water tender
  • Personnel: 163 firefighters

The weather has been forecasted to reach wind speeds of 60 mph. RED FLAG warning is in effect until 2000 hours this evening.

(c) 2022 NWFB