| Cooks Peak Fire Morning Update – 04/24/2022NM Fire Info
The wind is gradually decreasingas a supplement firefighters resources arrive on scene
Active fire behavior will continue
Morning update 04/24/2022
| Acres: 51,982 acres (infrared flight last night) Location: North of Ocate NM, about 46 miles north of Las Vegas, NM Containment: 0% |
Start date: Sunday, April 17, 2022 Cause: Unknown, under investigation Fuels: ponderosa pine, oak brush and grass |
After days of gusty and erratic winds, the Cooks Peak Fire will begin to experience reduced winds with a weak cold front moving into New Mexico from the west. The Cooks Peak Fire will continue to be active, driven by topography and drought-stressed trees, brush and grass. A temporary flight restriction (TFR) has been put in place over the fire area.
Current Evacuations for Mora and Colfax Counties: Colfax County – TO GO– Miami, Sweetwater, Rayado, Philmont Scout Ranch and Sunnyside – evacuate now! POSITION – Cimarron. Ready: Angel of fire. Colfax County residents should sign up for Code Red now. This system informs residents of the evacuation status. For notifications, register on the Colfax County website: http://www.co.colfax.nm.us/government/emergency_management.php
Mora County – GO: Los LeFebres and Los Huerros, residents east of County Road 009 and north of NM Highway 120. Ready: Lucero and Los Cocas, residents west of County Road 009 and north of Highway 120. Mora and Colfax County Sheriff’s Offices use the Ready! Adjust! To go! evacuation status program that provides information on evacuation and evacuation preparation.
Evacuation centers are housed at Old Memorial Middle School, 947 Old National Rd, Las Vegas; Colfax County Fairgrounds, 16 Airport Road, Springer; and the Raton Convention Center, 901 S. 3rd Saint Raccoon.
Livestock: Residents can evacuate livestock to the Colfax County Fairgrounds. If Mora residents need a place for the horses, the Taos Rodeo Grounds is available. Contact: Livestock Inspector Ruben Baca 505-770-1490.
Fire Update: Firefighters continued to observe active fire behavior across the Cooks Peak Fire on Saturday. Crews worked to protect structures and communities all around the fire during the day and night. Firefighters monitored fire behavior, assessed values at risk, and continued work along bulldozer lines to help maintain the line of fire.
Today, firefighters will continue to build hand and bulldozer lines to protect communities and contain the blaze. Helicopters and air tankers should be available to support firefighters on the ground in lighter winds. There is potential for active fire behavior when topography and drought-stressed fuels align. Structural assessments are still ongoing and crews will continue to document sightings and identify any structures affected by the fire.
Weather: Weather conditions conducive to fires began to moderate on Saturday evening as winds eased and humidity increased overnight. Sunday will be cool and dry with lighter winds. Tonight a cold front will pass over northern New Mexico and through the fire zone, with a possibility of scattered snow at high elevations and rain at low elevations on the fire late overnight through Monday morning. Although an increase in humidity will aid overnight recoveries, no significant wetting precipitation is expected.
Motorway closures: The Cooks Peak Fire has closed County Road 009 and part of NM120, from mile marker 14-26, and at the junction of Highways 442 and 120. Motorists are urged to delay travel or seek alternate routes . Visit https://nmroads.com/mapIndex.html for more information.
Smoke: Smoke from Cooks Peak and other fires in the area are reducing visibility along I-25 from Springer to Wagon Mound, which will continue through Sunday evening. Area fire smoke will be moderate for the Springer, Wagon Mound and Cimarron communities and the Philmont Ranch. The smoke will be in the unhealthy range for the city of Miami. An interactive smoke map is available at https://fire.airnow.gov/ allowing you to zoom into your area to see the latest smoke conditions.
More information:
Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8066/
Information on the fires in New Mexico: https://nmfireinfo.com/
Smoke Outlook: https://outlooks.wildlandfiresmoke.net/outlook/b335b9f4
Telephone line: 505-357-0683; Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Media phone line: 505-445-8278
E-mail: [email protected]
