Jesse Gallegos
Public Relations Coordinator
Luna Community College
April 13, 2022
The campus being used as a command center
in Hermit’s Peak Fire
By Dave Kavanaugh/Luna Community College
As crews continue to battle around the clock to contain the Hermit’s Peak Fire, Luna Community College is doing its part to assist in that effort.
Since early Sunday morning, the campus has been used as an incident command center and staging area by the U.S. Forest Service, Santa Fe National Forest, as coordination of firefighting operations continues. Luna has made available the General Studies Building for use as the command center itself. Crews are using the LCC Cafeteria as sleeping quarters, and additional areas adjacent to the Allied Health Science Building are being used as campsites.
The wildfire resulted after a prescribed burn in Las Dispensas encountered what the USFS described as “unexpected erratic winds” on April 6. As of one week later (Wednesday), the blaze had topped 6,200 acres with multiple spot fires beyond the boundary of the prescribed burn project, reported Julie Anne Overton, spokeswoman for the SFNF. More than 350 personnel have been dispatched to the fire, which is approximately 12 miles northwest of Las Vegas. More could be committed in the hours ahead.
The Southwest Area Type 2 Incident Management Team 4 assumed command of the Hermit’s Peak Fire as of Monday, April 11.
Luna President Dr. Edward Martinez made initial conversations with the San Miguel County Sheriff’s Office and offered the campus and its amenities to the collaborative firefighting effort, said Matthew Griego, Luna’s life safety and security coordinator. Griego said a total of eight converted classrooms, eight offices, the cafeteria, and three parking lots have been devoted to the command center and firefighter quarters. A weather station and air quality and pollution station from the Environmental Protection Agency have been established on campus, measuring conditions to aid in planning, Griego said.
“We were able to provide a building that is out of the elements, as well as internet connectivity and amenities,” Griego said. “We wanted to offer the Forest Service a place that would ensure continuity of operations, with access to the internet and other utilities. This will enable them to effectively attack the fire.”
“Our hearts go out to our neighbors affected by this fire,” said Martinez. “We are glad to be able to help the firefighting effort by providing suitable facilities and resources.”
In a Wednesday morning briefing, Operations Section Chief Shilow Norton hailed “amazing work, very engaged in very extreme weather conditions” by firefighters. “A lot of work yet to be done, but the folks out there on the ground did an excellent job — very good, impressive work. We’ll continue to do that.”
Containment efforts have been hampered by high winds – sustained winds in excess of 48 mph with gusts over 60 mph in nearby areas — and the inability to fly aircraft into the area, Norton noted. But he said crews had made “pretty good progress”, particularly in securing the southern flank of the fire. In the last report, containment had been listed at 10 percent.
A number of evacuations have been ordered for communities including San Ignacio, Las Dispensers, Pendaries Village, Las Tusas, Lone Pine Mesa, Lower Canyon Road in Gallinas Canyon and La Tewa, Canoncito, Manuelita’s, Chavez, County Road A3, southwest Sapello and southern Tierra Monte Canyon, with several other communities being put on alert for possible evacuations. Additional closures and restrictions have also been implemented.
Las Vegas City Schools’ old Memorial Middle School gym (Legion and Old National) has been designated as a shelter option for families and individuals displaced by the fire. A number of private landowners have offered temporary shelter for horses, livestock, and other animals displaced by the fire.
Luna facilities employee Michael Jaramillo is among those who have stepped up to help move animals out of harm’s way. Earlier this week, he was helping a cousin relocate his cattle from Las Dispensas to a safe property away from the fire, and he ended up offering his help (and stock trailer) to move more livestock and horses. In all, he estimated more than 100 head of cattle, and roughly 30 horses were transported.
“That’s their livelihood,” Jaramillo said of the ranchers he assisted. “So yes, I offered to help. I did what I could. Without the community coming together, a lot more could be lost.”
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A Hermits Peak Fire cooperator’s meeting with several entities was held on Wednesday, April 13, on the Luna campus. The Luna campus in Las Vegas is being utilized as an incident command center by the U.S. Forest Service. Photo by Jesse Gallegos, Luna Community College.
Plumes of thick smoke from the Hermit’s Peak Fire loom ominously near Las Dispensas. Photo courtesy Michael Jaramillo.
Fire crew vehicles have become a fixture this past week on the Luna campus. Crews from across the region have pitched in to fight the Hermit’s Peak Fire 12 miles northwest of Las Vegas. Photos by Dave Kavanaugh, Luna Community College.
