Cerro Pelado fire: Saturday (April 23) evening update

Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos County and the National Nuclear Security Administration’s Los Alamos Field Office update community on status of fire currently burning in Jemez Mountains

April 24, 2022

The Cerro Pelado fire burning in the Jemez Mountains remains approximately 10 miles from the Laboratory boundary, according to US Forest Service estimates, and the use of aircraft throughout the day to drop water and fire retardants has been effective in reducing its spread.

New Mexico State Road 4 at mile markers 30 and 50 (where it intersects with West Jemez, or the “back gate”) to the junction of NM 4 with 126 continues to be closed.

A Type 1 incident management team will take control early Sunday morning, and the Laboratory, Los Alamos County and NNSA Field Office are monitoring the fire as a unified response and will continue to provide updates. Emergency operations managers from Los Alamos and Sandoval counties are drawing on the technical expertise of the Laboratory and NNSA, as well as that of the Los Alamos County Fire Department, although LA County Fire Chief Troy Hughes notes that this will have no negative impact on LAFD’s ability to respond to county or LANL calls.

Additional air support is planned through the day tomorrow, and weather predictions are for moderate winds and cool temperatures, providing a good opportunity for fire management to further control the situation.

For further information specific to the fire, check US Forest Service website.