Members of the public this evening in Griffith Gymnasium speaking with representatives of various agencies involved in responding to the Cerro Pelado Fire. Photo by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.com
Los Alamos County Emergency Manager Beverley Simpson, right, speaking to residents after the community briefing on the Cerro Pelado Fire concluded this evening in Griffith Gymnasium. Photo by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.com
By KIRSTEN LASKEY
Los Alamos Daily Post
kirsten@ladailypost.com
Despite obstacles that range from red flag warnings for high-speed winds to relative humidity levels dipping into the single percentages, the Cerro Pelado Fire appears to be slowing down, at least at the moment.
This good news was shared during the community briefing held this evening in Griffith Gymnasium at Los Alamos High School.
Operations Section Chief Jeff Surber with Great Basin Team 1 said that portions of the fire now considered contained are increasing.
“…we’re upping our containment, which is good news,” he said, adding that the fire’s growth has decreased every day.
This does not mean that things are getting complacent.
“We still have initial attack resources out there in the event of a new start and we have a contingency group that is still looking out in front of the fire,” Surber said. “We are not letting our guard down.”
It was emphasized throughout the meeting that the firefighters deserve the credit for the fire’s decrease in growth.
Los Alamos Fire Chief Troy Hughes said response to the Cerro Pelado Fire has featured unprecedented cooperation between many agencies. He explained that every morning there is a meeting with the Department of Energy, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos Public Schools, and Los Alamos County fire and police. Chief Hughes also pointed out there is coordination with the National Park Service and Bandelier National Monument.
He said the work firefighters are doing is tremendous.
“I can’t say enough for those guys that you don’t get to see … that camp is full of firefighters, sleeping in tents in 20-degree weather,” he said. “They are working long days – 16-hour days – they come back and eat whatever is put in front of them, try to get whatever rest they can. They get up early in the morning and do it all over again. So those guys get a lot of credit (for) really doing a great job. The team leadership … is impressive. (We’ve) been very fortunate in Los Alamos to have these guys here.”
LANL Wildland Fire Program Manager Rich Nieto agreed. He noted that firefighters are making long treks into canyons in hot, dry conditions wearing packs to get to the fire.
“They’re doing the Lord’s work right now, trying to get in there, doing it safely and aggressively but not getting hurt in the process,” he said.
Incident Commander Rich Harvey of Great Basin Team 1 added that everyone is working hard to fight the fire, ensure residents can remain in their homes and push the community back to the “ready” phase of the ready, set, go process.
The hard work is paying off, he said.
“Firefighters are doing good out there. The community is getting safer every minute they spend out there on the ground,” Harvey said, adding that all the support the firefighters receive is really appreciated. It makes the 16-hour days and lukewarm meals worth it.
In other news related to the Cerro Pelado Fire, Air Resource Advisor Jill Webster spoke about the air quality. She said that information on air quality is updated continuously at https://fire.airnow.gov/. The site uses an air quality index to show daily smoke outlooks. The more red on the index means the air is becoming more hazardous, the more green – the healthier the air. There are numerous options to lower smoke exposure, but Webster said the best idea is to just take it easy and not do anything exerting.
As for Los Alamos, Friday is expected to be in the green on the index, but Webster said that may not last.
“We are going to have a high pressure settling in … that means the air is going to stagnate a bit,” she said. “While the winds are good, they are dying down (and we’re) not going to have the benefit of it moving the smoke around like we had the last couple of days.”
Los Alamos County Emergency Manager Beverley Simpson presented updates on plans for any potential evacuations. She reported that at 3 p.m. Friday, the CodeRED system will be tested. Additionally, if Los Alamos is evacuated, a shelter will be setup at the Genoveva Chavez Community Center, she said. A pet shelter will be set up there, too. Simpson reminded residents that Santa Fe National Forest trails are closed as well as all unpaved County trails. The County also is in stage three fire restrictions and people need to be cognizant of that.
Simpson also said there is discussion about expanding County services and reopening some of its facilities. Additionally, Los Alamos Public Schools will resume classes starting Monday.
