Up to 18,000 displaced by disaster, gov. says
Recovery could take years
On May 4, President Joe Biden declared a major disaster in New Mexico communities “affected by wildfires and straight-line winds beginning on April 5, 2022, and continuing,” including three counties impacted by the Calf Canyon–Hermits Peak Fire.
As authorities allow some residents to return to their homes within areas burned by the Calf Canyon–Hermits Peak Fire in San Miguel and Mora counties, state and federal disaster relief assistance is coming into sharper focus. Gov. Michelle
Lujan Grisham told reporters at a press conference on Tuesday that estimates are that between 10,000 and 18,000 people have had to evacuate their homes and businesses due to the fire, the largest in state history.
She said at least 366 structures have been destroyed by the fire, a number she said is sure to rise. Also on Tuesday, Lujan Grisham spoke with Biden, who indicated that he intends to travel to New Mexico and see the impact of the wildfires firsthand.
According to Deanne Criswell, Federal Emergency Management Agency administrator, residents in five New Mexico counties are currently eligible for federal disaster assistance: Colfax, Mora and San Miguel, due to the Calf Canyon–Hermits Peak Fire; Lincoln County, due to the McBride and
Nogal Canyon fires; and Valencia County, where flooding and wildfires have wreaked havoc for several months.
Taos County, the southeast edge of which, according to fire officials, is seeing some of the most active fire behavior over the past week, had not yet been added to the federal list as of Wednesday (May 18).
“If you have been impacted and you’re in those [five] counties, I strongly encourage you to register for assistance with the Federal Emergency Management Agency,” Criswell told reporters during a Tuesday press conference with Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and other state and federal leadership. “Some of the assistance that you’re eligible to receive includes things like emergency home repairs or any disaster-related damage that you may have incurred and if you have uninsured or under-insured costs as a result of the fire, or if you’ve already incurred lodging expenses; those could be eligible
the resort.
“That way we can run the lift to keep the haul rope from getting too hot and snapping,” as well as preventing the chairs from being damaged, Bradley said, adding that Sipapu still had electrical power. He estimated the blaze was about 2 and 1/2 miles away on Wednesday.
“We’re a good resource, and with the cell tower working, first responders can have communication, and we have water that can be pumped,” he said. “Whatever we can do to help keep it from hitting Sipapu also means we’re keeping it from hitting Santa Barbara and Peñasco. This is our community.”
Hogrefe said authorities are closely watching Santa Barbara and Rodarte as well, because the fire was within about 6 miles of the area, which remained in “Set” status as of Wednesday.
Mid-week, Taos Canyon was still in “Ready” status, but fire officials indicated that there is a possibility that the blaze will draw closer to Taos from the south near Sipapu, where it spread significantly to the west again on Monday (May 16), even as flight crews provided intensive aerial support to bolster a fire break along the south side of NM 518.
“In addition to that, crews worked on the northern side, west of Chacon,” just across the Taos County line, said Jayson Coil, operations section chief for the North Zone of the fire. “They also used heavy helicopters. Even if this action doesn’t prevent the fire from continuing north and only prevents its eastward movement, it buys us a lot.”
Coil said that crews began working on the ground south of Shady Brook and Valle Escondido to establish a “Northern Line” contingency fire break, which, once completed, will stretch across 25 miles following a ridge system between the Angel Fire–Black Lake area and Talpa.
He estimated that construction of the Northern Line could take up to two weeks to complete.
“We are not going to sacrifice an opportunity to prevent it from getting into the [US] 64 corridor by attempting to do something that’s in so close we don’t have a chance to be successful,” Coil said, adding that dozer crews are working in concert with firefighters to establish a fire break from northwest of Chacon and adjacent to the Luna Fire burn scar, down to NM 518 near Angostura.
Construction of the 25-mile “shaded fuel break” outside of Taos, “is gonna be a race,” he said.
Peñasco High School has been hosting a Red Cross evacuation shelter in the school gym for over a month, where about 20 evacuees have been bedding down each night, with more dropping in during the day to pick up supplies and
register for federal disaster assistance.
Hogrefe said any areas in “Set” status should pack essential items immediately. “You should, by now, have your bags packed and be ready to go — it’s close.”
He advised the same for the residents of “greater Peñasco,” i.e. folks who live between the intersection of NM 73 and NM 75 and the western edge of Picuris Pueblo.
“That means you should be packing your bags, packing your cars, getting things in order,” Hogrefe said. “You have some time, but it can go from ‘Ready’ to
‘Set’ and ‘Set’ to ‘Go!’” quickly.
“Because of our concern with Peñasco, where one of our primary shelters has been, we’re asking people who do need to evacuate to please come to Taos first,” Hogrefe continued, adding that authorities are prepared to shuffle evacuees further north to Red River, should the Taos-area shelter options fill up.
“Our county management team is also working on getting a [shelter] location at one of the local schools in Taos,” he noted.
Hogrefe advised all Taos County residents to pack a go-bag, regardless of evacuation status. Tips on making an emergency plan and what to pack in a go-bag are available online at ready.gov.
“Because of how dry we are, and the potential for new fires to start, all of Taos County should be prepared,” Hogrefe told the Taos News.
Fire officials reported that fire growth has slowed due to more cooperative weather conditions and the efforts of the nearly 2,000 personnel assigned to the fire. However, windier conditions are forecast beginning Thursday (May 19), when critical fire weather conditions are expected to return.
Colfax County put the communities of Hidden Lake, Black Lake and Black Lake Resorts on “Go!” status Wednesday (May 11), while Angel Fire, Taos Pines Ranch and Memorial Lane had been moved to “Set” status, meaning residents should gather essential documents, pack possessions and supplies, and be prepared to leave at a moments notice. Those notifications had not changed as of Wednesday (May 18).
“There’s the possibility — this fire’s got enough energy — that those areas are going to see fire,” said Todd Abel, operations section chief for the Southwest Area Incident Management Team, speaking during a community briefing last week.
“Crews are working to put a hose lay in all around the perimeter of Angel Fire,” Coil said this week.