BY MAIRE O’NEILL
maire@losalamosreporter.com

Residents of the Forest Road 10 are of the Jemez Mountains are being evacuated due to a fire now called the Cerro Pelado Fire burning east of Jemez Falls Campground. The fire has already burned more than 40 acres. Los Alamos Police Department has asked the New Mexico State Police to close State Route 4 from Los Alamos. LAPD has sent three officers to assist Sandoval County with evacuations in the area.

Wind gusts are up to 55 mph in the area and the fire is reportedly moving towards the Valles Caldera National Preserve.

Updates will be provided as they become available.

Update 5:45 p.m.
Los Alamos County Emergency Management has made the following announcement:

“At this time, there is NO required action for people in the Los Alamos area. Please do not call LAPD Dispatch to report the smoke being seen from Los Alamos. Call 911 if you see a new fire/smoke from another area.”

Updated 6:10 p.m.

Los Alamos Fire Department Deputy Chief Steve Dawald said a short time ago that LAFD has sent two wildland fire engines to the Cerro Pelado Fire in the Jemez Mountains and expects to send two more as soon as the shifts at local stations are backfilled. Chief Daward said has an unconfirmed report of a structure fire in Sierra de Los Pinos subdivision.