Expand / Collapse search
Watch TV
Menu

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. ©2024 FOX News Network, LLC. All rights reserved. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Market data provided by Factset. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Legal Statement. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper.

New Mexico

New Mexico wildfire scorches nearly 300,000 acres, becomes largest wildfire in state history

The Hermits Peak fire started on April 6 when a prescribed burn got out of control

Paul Best By Paul Best Fox News
Published
close
Fox News Flash top headlines for May 16 Video

Fox News Flash top headlines for May 16

Fox News Flash top headlines are here. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com.

The Hermits Peak Calf Canyon fire has destroyed hundreds of homes and scorched nearly 300,000 acres in the last five weeks, making it the largest wildfire in New Mexico's history. 

A combination of steep terrain, high temperatures, and low humidity has complicated efforts for the more than 2,000 firefighters currently trying to suppress the blaze, which was 27% contained on Monday. 

  • New Mexico National Guard Aviation soldiers execute water drops
    Image 1 of 2

    New Mexico National Guard Aviation soldiers execute water drops as part of firefighting efforts, dropping thousands of gallons of water from a UH-60 Black Hawks with Bambi buckets on the Calf Canyon/Hermits Peak fire in northern New Mexico. (New Mexico National Guard via AP)

  • The"super scooper" aircraft battles the Hermits Peak and Calf Canyon Fires
    Image 2 of 2

    In this photo released by the U.S. Forest Service, an aircraft known as a "super scooper" battles the Hermits Peak and Calf Canyon Fires in the Santa Fe National Forest in New Mexico on Thursday, April 28, 2022. (J. Michael Johnson/U.S. Forest Service via AP)

The Hermits Peak fire started on April 6 when a prescribed burn in the Santa Fe National Forest got out of control due to unexpected winds. The Calf Canyon Fire started about two weeks later and merged with the Hermits Peak fire on April 22. 

MASSIVE DEBRIS FIRE IN PHOENIX FORCES HIGHWAY CLOSURE

Strong winds have periodically kept scooper planes out of the skies, while complex terrain in the mountains has slowed down progress for firefighters on the ground. 

The wildfire had burned 298,060 acres on Monday morning, surpassing the previous record set in the state by the Whitewater Baldy fire in 2012. 

  • New Mexico wildfire
    Image 1 of 3

    View of the remains of Michael Salazar's house, burned during the Hermits Peak and Calf Canyon fires, in Tierra Monte, New Mexico, U.S., May 11, 2022.  (REUTERS/Adria Malcolm)

  • New Mexico wildfire
    Image 2 of 3

    Michael Salazar walks at his property burned during the Hermits Peak and Calf Canyon fires, in Tierra Monte, New Mexico, U.S., May 11, 2022.  (REUTERS/Adria Malcolm)

  • New Mexico wildfire
    Image 3 of 3

    Michael Salazar speaks at his property burned during the Hermits Peak and Calf Canyon fires, in Tierra Monte, New Mexico, U.S., May 11, 2022.  (REUTERS/Adria Malcolm)

The Sipapu ski resort, located about 20 miles south of Taos in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, and surrounding areas issued mandatory evacuation orders on Sunday evening. 

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Elsewhere in New Mexico, the Cerro Pelado fire has burned about 45,000 acres west of Santa Fe, while the Cooks Peak fire had scorched about 59,000 acres to the northwest. 

Paul Best is a breaking news reporter for Fox News Digital and Fox Business. Story tips and ideas can be sent to Paul.Best@fox.com and on Twitter: @KincaidBest.