Holy Cross Medical Center offers wildfire support
As the Calf Canyon–Hermits Peak Fire continued over the weekend to threaten the region Holy Cross Medical Center serves, hospital administrators said they are monitoring the situation with regard to those who might be affected by evacuations, including hospital employees who have been displaced from their homes.
In a weekend press release, the hospital said it is working closely with Emergency Response Coordinator David Elliot to make sure that proper response plans are in place. Holy Cross said it is helping to safely relocate evacuated hospital employees and offering housing support if necessary.
Like many businesses in Taos, Holy Cross employs workers who live outside of town limits, including in areas directly impacted by the wildfire.
The hospital has over 400 employees, some of whom live in communities that are under different levels of evacuation status.
Additionally, Holy Cross Medical Center said it is evaluating the hospital’s heating and cooling system to ensure the facility is prepared to mitigate potential smoky conditions and poor air quality resulting from several major wildfires burning in Northern New Mexico and elsewhere in the Southwest.
Wildfire smoke in Taos has come and gone over the last month. Monday (May 16), for example, saw heavy smoke early in the morning which then dissipated throughout the day. But fire officials said Friday (May 14) that air quality levels in communities that surround the Calf Canyon-Hermits Peak Fire could worsen as weather conditions evolve. The Interagency Wildland Fire Air Quality Response Program maintains and up-to-date interactive air quality map online at fire.airnow.gov.
Holy Cross remains open, and the emergency response team does not foresee an immediate situation where services would need to be restricted, the release added.
“It is important that our community
knows that our hospital remains open to provide quality health care,” CEO Bill Patten said. “Though this is an evolving situation and weather patterns can
change, it appears unlikely that the hospital or any of our facilities will be at risk, and Holy Cross is here and ready to care for our community.”