Suzanne S Klapmeier
Fire official anticipate strong winds throughout the evening and the weekend as they continue to battle the Hermits Peak and Calf Canyon fires.
Officials issued an ominous warning during Friday night’s update of the Hermits Peak and Calf Canyon fires.
“It does look scary out there,” said Incident Commander Carl Schwope during the update. “In this situation some of the predictions that we put are being exceeded by the rapid rate of spread of this fire, so we’re in very dangerous conditions.”
The Hermits Peak and Calf Canyon fires, which merged last week, expanded both to the north and south on Friday and are estimated to have burned 75,280 acres with 32% containment.
Some families in San Miguel County have already been evacuated two times in the last three weeks as the fires have grown and merged.
Despite the number of resources devoted to the fire, Schwope acknowledged the difficult weather and wind conditions, “We can’t keep up with it.” Though he noted that the night would bring lower temperatures and slower winds, which night crews battling the blaze plan to take advantage of.
Stewart Turner, fire behavior analyst, lamented the high winds earlier in the day, which will continue throughout Saturday and which caused the fires to be about two hours ahead of his models. Given the dry conditions and direction of winds in the coming days, Turner said the fire could make significant gains north.
Just prior to starting the meeting, fire officials drew an additional red thumb along the southeastern edge of the fire on the printed map, pointing toward the City of Las Vegas. The added burn zone reflected the fire’s larger-than-expected progress.
One area of concern, and the focus of significant resources, was near the town of Ledoux. Officials say firefighters are working tirelessly to keep the fire from jumping onto the southern slopes of Eagle Peak.
“If we get fire established on these timber stringer up here, and then the day after tomorrow when those southerly winds materialize, that would be a big problem for Mora,” Jayson Coil, operations section chief with Southwest Incident Area Team 1, said.
“We’re working really hard to make sure that that doesn’t happen,” he added.
Another priority area is on the opposite side of the fire, the area closest to Las Vegas.
A midday release from the San Miguel County Sheriff’s Department warned the fire could spread through the Gallinas River corridor and reach Gallinas by 7 pm.
The sheriff announced an evacuation order for communities that might be impacted by the fire’s southern expansion, including Big Pine, Porvenir Canyon, El Porvenir, Gallinas, Lower Canyon Road and Trout Springs.
Coil outlined a plan to create a barrier near the Montezuma Hot Springs to buffer the county seat from the blaze.
Smoke from the Hermits Peak, Calf Canyon and Cerro Pelado fires hung in the air throughout Santa Fe. The latter fire is burning 7,245 acres near Jemez Springs and is 15% contained.
San Miguel County Sheriff Chris Lopez said his office received calls that the Las Vegas water treatment facility was closed, he said that information was false.
Las Vegas officials issued a press release Friday night reporting no current impacts to drinking water quality or the drinking water reservoir or water treatment facility. The New Mexico Environment Department’s Drinking Water Bureau reviewed data from both facilities and confirmed “there is no current threat to public health from the City’s drinking water supply.”
“We reviewed the data and verified that the water in Las Vegas is safe. We will continue working with the Cit to ensure safe and healthy drinking water is delivered to residents. Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Las Vegas and surrounding communities,” said NMED Cabinet Secretary James Kenney.
Lopez added that the facility can supply the city for three days if the facility is shut off, but he noted that it is a top priority for firefighters to protect.
Lopez said that his officers are encountering resistance to evacuation orders. He encouraged residents to get out now.
“We’re seeing epic fire conditions,” said Lopez. “Even with all the resources that we’ve put in place, between all the assisting agencies, we’re still having a hard time keeping up.”
