High wind stalls N.M. fire crews

Blaze near Santa Fe can easily double, commander says

SANTA FE, N.M. — High winds in northern New Mexico on Sunday once again posed a challenge to crews battling a large wildfire that grew significantly over the weekend.

The Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon fire east of Santa Fe, which began as two fires before merging a week ago, had burned almost 104,000 acres, or more than 160 square miles, by Sunday, up from about 75,000 acres Friday. It was 30% contained, fire officials said, with smoke from that fire and another — the Cerro Pelado fire in Jemez Springs, roughly 40 miles west of Santa Fe — permeating much of the northern part of the state.

More than 1,000 firefighters have worked to contain the Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon blaze. The spread of the fire from Friday into Saturday exceeded predictions, officials said in public briefings. Wind speeds exceeded 65 mph at times, according to Mike Johnson, a fire information officer. On Sunday, wind gusts of up to 45 mph were expected, and “extreme fire behavior” was possible over the next two days, according to InciWeb, a government website that tracks wildfires.

No deaths or injuries have been reported from the fire. State police reported the deaths of two people in April from another wildfire.

Carl Schwope, commander of a team for the region that combines firefighting resources from federal, state, local and other agencies, said on Saturday that the Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon fire “could easily double in size” before being contained.

“We’re still in a very dangerous fire situation. It’s going to continue,” he said, adding that winds were not letting up. “There’s nothing in the weather that looks like it’s going to change. High wind events, north wind events, south wind events — it’s all over the board.”

Schwope also urged residents to be on alert for more evacuation announcements. According to Johnson, about 6,000 people from 32 communities in the vicinity of the Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon fire, some in rural mountain areas, were already under orders to leave.

Because of the ongoing danger, county officials have been unable to provide a full accounting of how many structures have been destroyed or damaged. But Joy Ansley, county manager for San Miguel County, said that before the Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon fire expanded Friday, it had destroyed 200 structures.

Roger Montoya, a New Mexico state representative whose district includes three counties currently being affected by fires, spent time last week with a team delivering food and other supplies to residents who had not yet left. Some are without electricity, he said.

“There’s a reluctance for individuals to leave their homes,” he said.

Samuel Coca, general manager of a bar in the Castaneda Hotel in Las Vegas, New Mexico, said he had three vehicles packed with belongings in case he and his family needed to leave.

As the fire grew Friday, along with the number of people leaving their homes, his bar began providing free buffet dinners for firefighters and evacuees. Many people left home with the clothes they were wearing and not much else, he added.

“The first dozen people I spoke with lost everything,” Coca said. “They lost their houses, their ranches, some livestock. It was hard to get through the afternoon without crying.”