Courtesy/USDA
USDA Forest Service News:
The U.S. Forest Service announced the following update on the Cerro Pelado Fire:
Milder weather today with sunny skies in the morning. There is zero percent chance of precipitation and maximum temperature between 64-74 degrees. Relative humidity will be in the low teens. North winds are forecast to be 5-8 mph shifting to a west wind 5-9 mph in the afternoon. Fire behavior continues to be minimal.
Incident Statistics:
- Size: 45,605 acres
- Containment: 92 percent
- Start Date: April 22, 2022
- Cause: Unknown
- Total personnel: 575
Fire Operations:
- Crews will continue suppression work in the northwest part of fire near the communication towers and will work to finish removing unnecessary equipment. Chipping operations continue along the southern end of the fire and crews are patrolling the line for areas of heat and continuing suppression repair operations. Crews finished removing all the structure wrap and equipment from Bandelier National Monument. The Bandelier National Monument remains closed. See their website for current information – www.nps.gov/band/index.htm
BAER Information:
- The Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF) has established a Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) team to begin the assessment of National Forest System (NFS) lands impacted by the Cerro Pelado Fire. Information and resources can be found on the Cerro Pelado Post-Fire BAER assessment InciWeb page at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8118/
Crews.Equipment:
- 1 Type 1 hand crew, 12 Type II hand crews, 21 engines, 2 dozers, 14 water tenders, 4 ambulances and 2 helicopters.
Evacuations:
- Sandoval County: https://www.sandovalcountynm.gov/fire-alerts/
Closures:
- Santa Fe National Forest Closure order: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/santafe/alerts-notices
- Carson National Forest Closure order: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/carson/alerts-notices
- Cibola National Forest Closure order: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/cibola/alerts-notices
Air Quality: Information on air quality is at New Mexico Department of Health Environmental Public Health Tracking: https://nmtracking.org/fire, and an interactive smoke map is available at https://fire.airnow.gov/.
Fire Restrictions: The Santa Fe, Carson and Cibola National Forests have implemented forest closures effective 8 a.m. Thursday, May 19. Stage II Fire Restrictions remain in effect for the Santa Fe National Forest, which prohibits all campfires and other hazardous activities. Due to ongoing fire threats, Sandoval County will not issue burn permits. Stage III Fire Restrictions are in effect for Pueblo de Cochiti and Los Alamos.
Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR): There is a flight restriction over the fire area and drones are also prohibited. Temporary Flight Restrictions
