Hermits Peak wildfire declared in Santa Fe National Forest

SAN MIGUEL COUNTY, N.M. — Crews are working to fully suppress a wildfire that began as a prescribed burn 12 miles northwest of Las Vegas.

The U.S. Forest Service declared the Las Dispensas burn to be a wildfire around 4:30 p.m. Wednesday. The burn started in suitable weather conditions – but unexpected, variable winds caused multiple fires to spark and spread outside of the project boundary late Wednesday afternoon.

The wildfire is estimated at over 150 acres is in a remote location. No private property is directly threatened at this time.

The fire is expected to most northwest toward the Pecos Wilderness – from near the Pecos/Las Vegas Ranger District of the Santa Fe National Forest where the prescribed burn began.

As of Thursday evening, the fire is 0% contained.