Courtesy/USDA Forest Service
USDA Forest Service News:
The USDA Forest Service issued the following update this morning on the Cerro Pelado Fire burning in the Jemez Mountains.
Cooler temperatures will remain over the fire area for another day with highs around 65-70 degrees. Relative humidity will decrease with minimum values around 11-16 percent by the afternoon. Winds will be light in the morning, 3-8mph building to 9-13mph with gusts up to 20mph.
There is a 15 percent chance of thunderstorms with rain overnight. Fire behavior was minimal Sunday and today we will see similar conditions.
INCIDENT STATISTICS:
- Size: 45,605 Acres
- Containment: 85 percent
- Start Date: April 22
- Cause: Unknown
- Total personnel: 637
FIRE OPERATIONS: Crews were able to complete mop up of the fire line near Peralta Canyon Road and remove unnecessary equipment. Suppression work in the area was also completed.
Crews continue to work on suppression repair in the northeast corner of the fire. Firefighters were able to get into the Alamo Canyon area to look for heat. They only found a few areas of heat and were able to secure them. Crews will be pulling hose from the area and continuing the conversion of a dozer line into a trail.
The large chipping operation along the 266 road will continue today. While patrolling the line on the western side of the fire, crews found a small area of heat and were able to mop it up and secure the fire perimeter. Crews started removing structure protection wrap from the Bandelier National Monument and will continue with that work today. They are also removing hoses and sprinklers from the area.
Night division will be out again tonight to patrol the line and ensure no perimeter growth.
CREWS/EQUIPMENT: 1 Type 1 hand crew, 11 Type II hand crews, 27 engines, 3 dozers, 17 water tenders, 4 ambulances, 2 helicopters.
EVACUATIONS:
CLOSURES:
- Santa Fe National Forest Closure order
- Carson National Forest Closure order
- Cibola National Forest Closure order
Fire Restrictions: The Santa Fe, Carson and Cibola National Forests have implemented forest closures due to the extreme fire danger.
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.
AirQuality: Information on air quality is at New Mexico Department of Health Environmental Public Health Tracking, and an interactive smoke map is available.
Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR). There is a flight restriction over the fire area and drones are also prohibited.
