Crews responding to the Cerro Pelado fire in the Jemez Mountains continue to focus on protecting structures and controlling its southeastern side. Because anticipated higher winds and warmer temperatures could exacerbate fire conditions later this week, evacuations are expected to remain in effect, and New Mexico State Road 4 will continue to be closed from mile marker 50 to mile marker 30 until conditions improve.
As of Wednesday morning, the estimated size of the fire is about 5,485 acres, and it remains approximately 10 miles southwest of Laboratory property. View updated fire map. The estimated size of the fire is slightly higher than earlier in the week because infrared flight mapping has enabled responding agencies to get a more accurate understanding of its size and because burnout operations are currently being conducted to reduce fuels and prevent the fire’s spread.
A public meeting will be held the evening of Thursday, April 28; location and time are still to be determined. Additional information will be published when it becomes available.
Los Alamos and surrounding areas will see periods of haze especially in the afternoons and evenings. View smoke report. Note that the Valles Caldera is also closed.
The Laboratory, Los Alamos County and NNSA Field Office continue to monitor the fire as a unified response and will provide daily 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. Los Alamos County Fire Chief Troy Hughes said this has no negative impact on LAFD’s ability to respond to county or Laboratory calls.
More information on the Cerro Pelado fire can be found here:
- U.S. Forest Service website
- Inciweb incident page
- Santa Fe National Forest Twitter page
- Cerro Pelado Fire Facebook page
- Sandoval County fire alert page
- Fire information: Phone: 505-312-4593; email: cerropelado@firenet.gov