Crimson Cloud Hawthorn Blooms Near Unitarian Church
A Crimson Cloud Hawthorn blooms today near the Unitarian Church at 1738 N. Sage Loop. Photo by Deepa Pawar Read More
Firefighters Work To Keep Ahead Of Cerro Pelado Fire
A firefighter is on the job Tuesday working to keep ahead of the Cerro Pelado Fire cutting trees as part of mitigation efforts in combating the blaze, which has been burning in the Jemez Mountains since the afternoon of Friday, April 22, 2022. The cause is still undetermined. Photo by Nate Limback/ladailypost.com
Firefighters on the job Tuesday cutting down trees as part of mitigation efforts in combating the Cerro Pelado Fire burning in the Jemez Mountains. Photo by Nate Limback/ladailypost.com
Firefighters on the job Tuesday cutting down trees as part of mitigation efforts in combating Read More
Cerro Pelado Fire: 43,376 Acres Burned, 11% Contained
USDA Forest Service News:
Personnel and Equipment: 1,017 total personnel; 47 engines, 11 Type 1 hand crews, 15 Type 2 hand crews, 6 Type 2 initial attack crews, 9 helicopters, 2 scooper planes, 10 dozers, 1 masticator, 2 ambulances, 1 rapid medical extraction unit and 17 water tenders. 2 Air National Guard helicopters are on standby.
Tuesday: A Red Flag Weather warning was in effect. Though the area experienced strong gusts and low relative humidity (RH), no drastic fire movement occurred. Wind conditions allowed air operations to continue throughout most of the day, with scooper planes and Read More
Cerro Pelado Fire Morning Video: Wednesday May 11
Video of Great Basin Team 1 Public Information Officer Mary Cernicek speaking early this morning with the Los Alamos Daily Post on the status of the Cerro Pelado Fire overnight. Watch for this evening’s video update in which Cernicek will give a briefing on the status of the fire throughout today at ladailypost.com. Video by Nate Limback/ladailypost.com Read More
Hermits Peak & Calf Canyon Combined Fire Smoke Plume Viewed From Rover Boulevard
Los Alamos County Initiates ‘Operation Save The Bears’
To protect bears and residents, Los Alamos County is kicking off ‘Operation Save the Bears’. Courtesy/LAC
COUNTY News:
Operation Save the Bears is an initiative by Los Alamos County Environmental Services to deploy bear-resistant dumpsters and roll carts for all Los Alamos County businesses and residential households.
In FY22, the Los Alamos County Council allocated $2.4 million to implement the project. Existing commercial trash dumpsters and residential roll carts will be collected and repurposed as recycle dumpsters/roll carts or salvaged depending on the condition.
Why Was It Read More
Daily Postcard: Apple Tree Blooms On Barranca Mesa
Daily Postcard: A crab apple tree blooms at a home on Barranca Mesa. Photo by Selvi Viswanathan Read More
Cerro Pelado Fire Evening Video Update: Tuesday May 10
Video of Great Basin Team 1 Public Information Officer Mary Cernicek speaking this evening with the Los Alamos Daily Post on the most recent status of the Cerro Pelado Fire. Watch for the morning video update tomorrow in which Cernicek will give a briefing on the overnight status of the fire at ladailypost.com. Video by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.com Read More
2022 Primary: Make Your ‘Ready, Set, Go’ Voting Plans
Election Workers ready to greet voters earlier today in Council Chambers, the first day of In-Person Early Voting for the 2022 Primary Election, from left, Debra Baker, Norma Tech, Leslie Esquibel, Zoe Robles Rivera, Sharyl Hofer, Marilyn Rohn and Linda Fox. Courtesy/LAC
COUNTY News:
Today marked the start of in-person early voting for the 2022 Primary Election, and County Clerk Naomi Maestas would like to let residents know that her office is working hard to make sure citizens are still able to vote while the community is impacted by the Cerro Pelado Fire.
As the County moves between the “Ready, Read More
Massive Plume Of Smoke Billows Across Sky From Hermits Peak And Calf Canyon Combined Fire
A massive plume of smoke billows up from the Hermits Peak and Calf Canyon combined fire this afternoon as viewed from White Rock. Located near Gallinas Canyon, 1,759 personnel are battling this blaze, which has consumed 203,920 acres and is 39 percent contained. The Hermits Peak Fire began April 6, and was caused by spot fires from a prescribed burn. The Calf Canyon Fire began April 19, and the cause is under investigation. The fire is burning heavy mixed conifer, ponderosa pine, brush and grass. Photo by Jenn Bartram/ladailypost.com
View this afternoon from Pojoaque of the huge plume of smoke Read More
Cerro Pelado Fire: 42,491 Acres Burned, 11% Contained
SFNF News:
A Red Flag Weather warning is in effect today, due to sustained winds and dry conditions. Strong gusts and low relative humidity are expected to contribute to fire growth potential.
The northeast portion of the fire has slowed due to green spring vegetation on the mesas, which contains more moisture and is less efficient fire fuel. Fuel has become sparse as the fire moves northeast through the Las Conchas Fire footprint.
Though no drastic movement has occurred, wind gusts will carry embers and may ignite spot fires. Crews will verify and suppress all spots as they are discovered. Air Read More
Luján Launches Fire Resource Guide For New Mexicans
From the Office of U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Lujan:
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) launched a Fire Resource Guide to provide New Mexicans impacted by the wildfires with the most up-to-date information on evacuation shelters, hotline numbers, and more.
The resource guide can be found on the Senator’s homepage at lujan.senate.gov and will continue to be updated as additional resources become available.
NEW: FEMA Application for Federal Assistance
Last week, Sen. Luján joined President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris to sign a Major Disaster Declaration so much Read More
Cerro Pelado Fire Morning Video Update: Tuesday May 10
Video of Great Basin Team 1 Public Information Officer Mary Cernicek speaking with the Los Alamos Daily Post early this morning on the most recent status of the Cerro Pelado Fire. Watch for these morning and evening video updates each day going forward at ladailypost.com. Video by Nate Limback/ladailypost.com Read More
Daily Postcard: Prickly Pear Cactus Blooms In White Rock
Daily Postcard: A Prickly Pear Cactus surrounded by red buds spotted Monday in White Rock. Photo by Nancy Ann Hibbs Read More
Calf Canyon & Hermits Peak Fires Burn 189,767 Acres
Map of the Calf Canyon and Hermits Peak fires. Courtesy/SFNF
SFNF News:
A 59-hour Red Flag Warning began at 11 a.m. Saturday and continues through 9 p.m. today.
Additionally, a High Wind Warning began Sunday and goes until 8 p.m. today. This rare multi-day event has fueled very active fire behavior and movement. Fire will spread rapidly when winds align with available grass, brush, trees, and other fuels.
Due to the wind, helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft were grounded early Sunday and likely will be today. While firefighters have been engaged around the clock in a battle against this wind-driven Read More
Cerro Pelado Fire Update: Spot Fires Burning, But Not Cause For Alarm Or Evacuation; Calmer Weather Conditions Tonight And Tuesday
LANL News:
Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos County, the National Nuclear Security Administration’s Los Alamos Field Office and the Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management Los Alamos Field Office issued the following update early this evening to the community on the status of the fire burning in the Jemez Mountains.
Red flag conditions (high wind, low humidity) over the past two days have caused the Cerro Pelado Fire in the Jemez Mountains to grow, but fire officials say the fire continues to burn slowly and low to the ground over the Las Conchas burn scar, and there Read More
Cornell Lab Of Ornithology: New Regional Bird Guides Simplify Identification
Courtesy/Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Cornell Lab of Ornithology News:
ITHACA, NY — There’s a brand-new series of seven field guides to help people learn about the birds found in their region of the United States and Canada.
The All About Birds Regional Field-Guide Series is built upon information from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s All About Birds website, used by more than 20 million people each year.
“There are more than 700 species of birds in North America,” explained series editor Jill Leichter at the Cornell Lab. “That’s pretty daunting if you’re just getting started in birdwatching. Read More
Cerro Pelado Fire Burns 40,958 Acres, 11% Contained
USDA Forest Service:
The USDA Forest Service issued the following update this morning on the Cerro Pelado Fire burning in the Jemez Mountains.
Acreage: 40,958 acres Containment: 11 percent
Personnel and Equipment: 869 total personnel; 40 engines, 9 Type 1 hand crews, 10 Type 2 hand crews, 5 Type 2 initial attack crews, 9 helicopters, 2 scooper planes, 10 dozers, 1 masticator, 2 ambulances, 1 rapid medical extraction unit and 15 water tenders. 2 Air National Guard helicopters are on standby.
Sunday: Firefighters were patrolling and monitoring the northwest perimeter of the fire. U.S.
County: Stop Outdoor Watering During Set Phase
COUNTY News:
Officials from the Los Alamos Department of Public Utilities (DPU) are asking residents and businesses to stop outdoor water use until Los Alamos is no longer threatened by the Cerro Pelado Fire.
Residents should stop outdoor watering while in the Set phase of evacuation preparedness because outdoor watering negatively impacts pressure in the County’s water distribution system.
While the fire is not within the boundaries of that distribution system, water tanker trucks are being used to truck water closer to firefighting efforts.
Residents also are urged to refrain from leaving Read More
AGU: Wildfire Smoke Speeds Glacial Melt, Changes Mountain Runoff
Soot-covered ice found on the Athabasca Glacier in the Canadian Rockies. Photo by Caroline Aubry-Wake
AGU News:
“The occurrence and severity of wildfires is increasing. It is linked with climate change and past forest management, and has wide-ranging consequences for human activities and ecology,” said Caroline Aubry-Wake, a PhD candidate in USask’s College of Arts and Science and co-author of the study alongside supervisor Dr. John Pomeroy (PhD) and fellow PhD candidate Andre Bertoncini. Both Aubry-Wake and Bertoncini are student members of the Global Institute for Water Security. Read More
