DAY 4: FEBRUARY 4, 2024, SUNDAY
Photo Credit: Rincon Valley Fire
NEW MEXICO (USA) — The Calf Canyon Fire, was one of several wildfires burning in early April of 2022, and one of the largest in State History.
According to official fire reports and social media reports from various sources, this is a recap of the wildfires that broke out that year.
According to a report released by NOAA, there have been record droughts and western wildfires being the major events that defined the year 2022. Hermits Peak and Calf Canyon Fires are mentioned in the report. The record loss is an unbelievable 18 Billion Dollars.
Incident Cooperators: Logan Interagency Hotshot Crew, NM State Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, WECC, Verizon, Lt. Gov. Howie Morales, San Miguel County Sheriff’s Office, North Metro Fire, Santa Fe National Forest, Super Scoopers, Bridger Aerospace, Aero Flite, 10 Tanker Air Carrier, NWS IMET Operations, CA OES, Rincon Fire, Tucson Fire Department, Espanola Fire
CAUSE
Reports the cause were said to be determined to be an escaped pile burn or controlled burn. This would be the same cause for another large fire in the state under the name of Cerro Pelado Fire, this one near Los Alamos. It has been said that it was caused by the US Forest Service.
(L) Cerro Pelado Fire PIO Mike Lindbery was at Cochi Lake and took a photo of two Canadair CL-415 Super Scoopers operated by Aero Flite skimming across the lake to refill with water. – Photo Credit: SFNF
CALF CANYON & HERMIT PEAK FIRES
April 29, 2022
A Bridger Scooper 283 “Carmen” dropped water over the Hermit’s Peak Fire on April 28, 2022.
Photo Credit: Bridger Aerospace
May 4, 2022
The Rincon Valley FD sends a wildfire crew, which includes a crew member from the Tucson Fire Department bringing a total of four members.
Photo Credit: RVFD
May 10, 2022
It was said by a local newscaster that (both) wildfires were to be bigger than the City of Albuquerque and Santa Fe combined, with the (fires) at 318 square miles. This was more than 241 square miles than both of the Cities put together.
A wildfire named the ANGEL FIRE burns about 15 miles away from both (fires).
May 11, 2022
A Wireless Emergency Comms Center (WECC) and Verizon (cell service) Response were on the ground supporting first responders.
May 12, 2022
North Metro Firefighters (Photo Credit) alongside hundreds of personnel are under some dangerous conditions and the fire is no longer just your run-of-the-mill wildfire, but more or less like a firestorm as you can see in this photo.
May 13, 2022
The (fires) begin to have a slower rate of spread and have burned up to 270,000 acres today presenting the environment with a smoke plume that extends 300km in an eastern direction as the NASA Earth Data shows on this day.
Storm Chasers based out of Texas, stated smoke from (both fires) was moving east into the Texas Panhandle on this day (afternoon). The fires were listed to have a 30% containment status.
May 16, 2022
On May 16th, the Hermis Peak and the Calf Canyon Fire collectively together had already burned more than 298,000 acres, making it the largest wildfire in New Mexico history, according to a Weather Journalist.
(L) Photo Credit: Logan IA Hotshots
He continues that Fire Officials are still dealing with concerns of critically dry fire fuels, near record temps, and a rick of dry thunderstorms with lightning that could spark new starts.
May 18, 2022
The (fires) are now more than 300,000 acres with a 34% containment status.
Photo Credit: So Cal Air Ops Pilot Graham
One Climate/Weather Forecaster posted: ”The average size of wildfires in New Mexico has more than doubled over the last 40 years. Both of these wildfires are the largest fires on record.
The California (State) Office of Emergency Services (CA OES) sent additional mutual aid resources to the State of New Mexico which included strike teams, a hand crew, and a CA OES Recovery Team. Three strike teams had already been previously deployed and were working on the fire line.
Photo Credit: CA OES
May 19, 2022
Evacuation orders were downgraded on May 19, 2022, for areas of Gunner Trail, Hot Springs, County Acres, Storrie Lake, 527-525-Hwy 518, Emplazado, County A3, Las Dispensas, Canoncito, and Tierra Monte-Canon.
A resident near Pecos can see the easterly winds pushing the Calf Canyon Fire toward his home. A spot fire is visible between Cow and Bull Creek seen from between Rowe and San Juan.
June 1, 2022
Seven puppies are rescued by an Espanola firefighter, Arron Abeyta while fighting the (wildfires). They were spayed and neutered and have all been adopted. LOVE these feels-good stories.
A post released by the Espanola Humane on May 19th shows this firefighter (unknown if this is Arron) but they stated firefighters were sharing their lunches with pets who were stuck within the fire perimeter. Espanola Humane Teams and other groups helped organize multiple deliveries of pet food to fire camps.
June 8, 2022
A Bridger Scooper 281 draws water off the lake. Photo Credit: Bridger Aerospace
June 14, 2022
A fire spotter stated that the (fires) had a big fire behavior jump in the Pecos Wilderness that produced over 1.25 miles of the new active perimeter.
The fire is now 70% contained but continues to show high smoke columns over the mountainous ridge.
A fire watcher sums it all up: ”Massive pyrocumulus cloud this evening,70 days since it started and 325,340 acres burned. 761 structures were destroyed and 60 were damaged. The monsoon can’t come soon enough.”
June 16, 2022
An unstable atmosphere created volatile conditions at the fire, with many large pyrocumulus plumes and pyroCB plumes reaching 40,000 ft in the air so far today. – Weather forecaster.
A new spot fire ignited which crossed the Pecos River and was moving northwest, about one mile north of Beatty’s Cabin. The fire was moving into the wilderness with dense stands of dead trees. It does not pose a threat to structures or communities. There was a noticeable column developing so smoke will be highly visible from Taos, Vallecitos, and nearby communities. (Source: Calf Canyon and Hermits Peak Fire Facebook Page)
June 24, 2022
A Flash Flood Watch was in effect on Saturday and Sunday due to other wildfires that burned in the State, Cerro Pelado Fire, and the Cooks Peak Fire were now seeing potential flooding through their burn scars and possibly impacting structures, people, and everything else in between. Forecasters were predicting heavy rain would arrive with a cold front and could produce flash flooding and debris flows in the areas.
June 28, 2022
Firefighters began getting the fire more under control and were said to be at a 98% containment status on June 28, 2022. However, the State Gov. would issue an immediate mandatory evacuation order on May 21, 2022, for communities of Holy Ghost, Tres Lagunas, El Macho, and Lower La Posada in San Miguel County.
July 18, 2022
Federal Government releases information on how New Mexicans can be reimbursed for fire damage/destruction during the (wildfire) incident that took a lot of property and destroyed many livelihoods. Story here: https://www.rd.usda.gov/newsroom/news-release/usda-launches-pilot-program-help-people-rural-new-mexico-repair-homes-damaged-forest-fires-or-future (Posted by: SBA New Mexico)
August 23, 2022
The NWS IMET (Pueblo) Operations responded to the (Fires).
October 31, 2022
According to the Tanker 10 Operations Twitter Page (10_Tanker Air Carrier), during the (Fires) incident, the Tanker completed 90 missions alone.
May 10, 2023
The visuals do not lie in this case with the devastation of the aftermath the (fires) did to the State’s landscapes. Reposted by (verified source) Common Raven
September 13, 2023
The TAOS News: ”FEMA expands wildfire compensation” article published about the Federal government which published a key rule that clears the way for a broader distribution of nearly $4 billion to Northern New Mexicans impacted by the largest wildfire in history.” To read more about this story, go to their website here: https://www.taosnews.com/news/environment/fema-expands-wildfire-compensation/article_3d711711-fbf2-5461-a502-a10057da464a.html
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