Gathered this evening at the Los Alamos Police Department to coordinate emergency planning, staffing and other topics for the ongoing fire in the Jemez and severe winds toppling trees onto powerlines locally, from left, Consolidated Dispatch Center Manager Kate Stoddard, Sgt. Chris Ross, Deputy Police Chief Oliver Morris, Det. Mike Weiss, County Emergency Management Specialist Cody Ulrich, Deputy Fire Chief Steve Dawald and County Emergency Manager Beverley Simpson. Emergency Management is coordinating the effort to find discounted hotel rates and other housing for the evacuees displaced by the fire in Sierra de Los Pinos and Los Griegos. Courtesy/LAPD

Cerro Pelado Fire Update:

The wildfire burning in the Jemez Mountains, called the Cerro Pelado Fire is not an immediate threat to Los Alamos County or Los Alamos National Laboratory.

As of 8 p.m. today, the fire is 13 miles from the Laboratory’s southwestern boundary. Four Los Alamos Fire Department wildland-fire vehicles are on the scene and one chief officer. 

The Laboratory, County and NNSA Field Office are monitoring the fire as a unified response and will continue to provide updates.

Emergency operations managers from Los Alamos and Sandoval counties are drawing on the technical expertise of the Laboratory, as well as that of the County Fire Department.

Editor’s note: After receiving this new release, the Los Alamos Daily Post spoke with Deputy Police Chief Oliver Morris. He urged the community to stay home if at all possible due to the fierce wind conditions causing trees to fall onto powerlines around town. Deputy Chief Morris also cautioned people to avoid going up to the Pajarito Ski Hill saying it is very windy up there and trees also are falling down. 

Scene today in the Los Alamos County Consolidated Dispatch Center at the Police Department. Courtesy/LAPD

Another scene today in the Consolidated Dispatch Center at the Police Department. Courtesy/LAPD