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Cerro Pelado Fire

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Wildfire in New Mexico
Cerro Pelado Fire
Cerro Pelado Fire Raging seen from NM 4
Date(s)April 22, 2022
LocationNew Mexico
Coordinates35°46′30″N 106°35′06″W / 35.775°N 106.585°W / 35.775; -106.585
Statistics
Burned area45,605 acres (18,456 ha)
Impacts
Deaths0
Non-fatal injuries0
Structures destroyed10
Ignition
CauseUnder investigation
Map
Cerro Pelado Fire is located in New MexicoCerro Pelado Fire

The Cerro Pelado Fire was a wildfire that burned in the southern Jemez Mountains in Sandoval County, southwest of Los Alamos, in the state of New Mexico in the United States as part of the 2022 New Mexico wildfire season. The cause of the fire was determined to be an escaped prescribed burn started by the US Forest Service. The wildfire started on April 22, 2022, during extreme fire weather conditions. As of 15 June 2022, the Cerro Pelado Fire has burned 45,605 acres (18,456 ha) and is 100% contained.

Events

On April 22, 2022, large portions of New Mexico experienced extreme fire conditions, including a red flag warning from the National Weather Service (NWS) office in Albuquerque. The fire was first reported that afternoon, it was officially named the Cerro Pelado Fire after the nearby Cerro Pelado mountain.

The Cerro Pelado Fire was partially burning within the burn scar of the 2011 Las Conchas Fire, and near those of the 2013 Thompson Ridge Fire and the 2017 Cajete Fire.

On June 15, 2022, it was announced that the Cerro Pelado Fire was fully contained. The New Mexico Type 3 Team will now hand charge to the Jemez Ranger District June 15, 2022.

Cause

An investigation by the United States Forest Service concluded in 2023 determined that the probable cause was debris-burning activities. A prescribed burn by the USFS had taken place in the area and several debris piles left by logging activity had been ignited in January and February of 2022. The piles were monitored occasionally following the initial prescribed burn and some of the piles in the ignition area retained heat as late as April 20, 2022. Fire crews would create berms around hot piles and spread the ashes to allow the heat to escape. The red flag event led to the spread of hot ash and embers from the burn piles, igniting the fire.

Impacts

Closures

The fire prompted the closure of the nearby Bandelier National Monument and the Valles Caldera National Preserve, as well as New Mexico State Road 4 from mile marker 27 to mile marker 59.

Weather/Health

Smoke from the Cerro Pelado Fire, in addition to the Calf Canyon/Hermits Peak Fire and Cooks Peak Fire burning in northern New Mexico, contributed to poor air quality throughout the region.

Progression and containment status

Fire containment status
Gray: contained; Red: active; %: percent contained;
Date Area burned
acres (km)		 Containment
April 22 50 (0) 0%
April 23 3,445 (14) 0%
¹
April 24 3,445 (14) 0%
April 25 4,688 (19) 0%
April 26 4,903 (20) 0%
April 27 5,711 (23) 0%
April 28 6,119 (25) 5%
April 29 7,245 (29) 15%
April 30 15,650 (63) 15%
May 1 17,885 (72) 10%
May 2 22,314 (90) 10%
May 3 25,004 (101) 10%
May 4 26,927 (109) 13%
May 5 29,368 (119) 13%
May 6 32,121 (130) 13%
May 7 34,671 (140) 11%
May 8 37,425 (151) 11%
May 9 40,958 (166) 11%
May 10 42,491 (172) 11%

¹April 23 true acreage is unknown due to inaccurate mapping.

See also

References

  1. "Cerro Pelado Information - InciWeb the Incident Information System".
  2. "Damaging Winds & Extreme Fire Weather on Friday, April 22nd".
  3. @GovMLG (15 June 2022). "News to celebrate:The #CerroPeladoFire is now 100% contained!The Santa Fe National Forest's Burned Area Emergen…" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  4. @NMFireInfo (14 June 2022). "The Northern New Mexico Type 3 Team will transition the fire back to the Jemez Ranger District on Wednesday, June 1…" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  5. United States Forest Service. Law Enforcement and Investigations (10 May 2023). "Cerro Pelado fire investigation - Redacted" (PDF). USDA Forest Service, Southwest Regional Office. p. 96. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
  6. npsnmfireinfo (2022-05-02). "Bandelier National Monument Closed Due to Cerro Pelado Fire". NM Fire Info. Retrieved 2022-05-03.
  7. "Valles Caldera Closes Due To Fire In The Jemez". ladailypost.com. Retrieved 2022-05-03.
  8. Salcedo, Angel (2022-05-02). "Wildfires and extreme wind cause air quality concerns in New Mexico". KOAT. Retrieved 2022-05-03.
  9. "May 3 Smoke Report for Cerro Pelado Fire - InciWeb the Incident Information System". inciweb.nwcg.gov. Retrieved 2022-05-03.
  10. "New Fire Start on SFNF Jemez Ranger District: Cerro Pelado Fire - InciWeb the Incident Information System". inciweb.nwcg.gov. Retrieved 2022-05-09.
  11. "Cerro Pelado Fire Update: April 23, 2022 - InciWeb the Incident Information System". inciweb.nwcg.gov. Retrieved 2022-05-09.
  12. "Cerro Pelado Daily Update for April 24, 2022 - InciWeb the Incident Information System". inciweb.nwcg.gov. Retrieved 2022-05-09.
  13. "Cerro Pelado Fire Daily Update for April 25, 2022 - InciWeb the Incident Information System". inciweb.nwcg.gov. Retrieved 2022-05-09.
  14. "Cerro Pelado Daily Update for April 26, 2022 - InciWeb the Incident Information System". inciweb.nwcg.gov. Retrieved 2022-05-09.
  15. "Cerro Pelado Daily Update for April 27, 2022 - InciWeb the Incident Information System". inciweb.nwcg.gov. Retrieved 2022-05-09.
  16. "Cerro Pelado Fire Daily Update for April 28, 2022 - InciWeb the Incident Information System". inciweb.nwcg.gov. April 28, 2022. Retrieved 2022-05-09.
  17. "Cerro Pelado Fire Daily Update for April 29, 2022 - InciWeb the Incident Information System". inciweb.nwcg.gov. Retrieved 2022-05-09.
  18. "Cerro Pelado Daily Update for April 30, 2022 - InciWeb the Incident Information System". inciweb.nwcg.gov. Retrieved 2022-05-09.
  19. "Cerro Pelado Fire Daily Update for May 1, 2022 - InciWeb the Incident Information System". inciweb.nwcg.gov. Retrieved 2022-05-09.
  20. "Cerro Pelado Fire Daily Update for May 2, 2022 - InciWeb the Incident Information System". inciweb.nwcg.gov. Retrieved 2022-05-09.
  21. "Cerro Peldao Fire Daily Update for May 3, 2022 - InciWeb the Incident Information System". inciweb.nwcg.gov. Retrieved 2022-05-09.
  22. "Cerro pelado Fire Daily Update for May 4 - InciWeb the Incident Information System". inciweb.nwcg.gov. Retrieved 2022-05-09.
  23. "Cerro pelado Fire Daily Update for May 5 - InciWeb the Incident Information System". inciweb.nwcg.gov. Retrieved 2022-05-09.
  24. "Cerro pelado Fire Daily Update for May 6 - InciWeb the Incident Information System". inciweb.nwcg.gov. Retrieved 2022-05-09.
  25. "Cerro Pelado Fire Update Saturday, May 7, 2022 - InciWeb the Incident Information System". inciweb.nwcg.gov. Retrieved 2022-05-09.
  26. "May 8, 2022 Cerro Pelado Fire Update - InciWeb the Incident Information System". inciweb.nwcg.gov. Retrieved 2022-05-09.
  27. "Cerro Pelado Fire Update for Monday, May 9 - InciWeb the Incident Information System". inciweb.nwcg.gov. Retrieved 2022-05-10.
  28. "Cerro Pelado Fire Update for Monday, May 10 - InciWeb the Incident Information System". inciweb.nwcg.gov. Retrieved 2022-05-10.

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