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Acres: 2619                                                                  

Start Date: 5/19/2024                           

Cause: Lightning

Location: 7 miles north of the village of Coyote, N.M.     

Personnel: 204                                     

Containment: 0% 

Resources: 6 crews | 1 helicopter | 7 engines| 1 road grader | 2 masticators | 4 water tenders

Highlights: Fire information staff will be posted across the street from Bode’s near the Post Office in Abiquiu on Sunday and Monday (May 26-27) from 12-1 p.m. to meet with members of the public and answer questions. 

The Southwest Area Complex Incident Management Team 4, Incident Commander Aaron Hulburd, will assume command of the fire on the morning of Monday, May 27. A CIMT comes with additional resources necessary to plan and manage this fire's long-term duration to meet the intent of letting fire play its natural role on the landscape.

Fire Activity: Despite a Red Flag Warning yesterday and strong winds, the fire showed moderate activity and firelines held. Due to the varied terrain, the fire doesn’t see constant sustained winds, allowing it to play its natural role in the landscape by cleaning up dead and down timber, brush, and needle cast. Because of the steep, rugged terrain, crews continue to build firelines utilizing roads and natural features where it makes sense. The fire continues to have good effects on the landscape as it works towards those lines.

The Carson Interagency Hotshot Crew (IHC) worked at the head of a sub-drainage south of the fire, where they improved the line and held the strategic firing operations they had conducted over the past few days. The Santa Fe and Mount Taylor IHCs made progress working further south towards a chunk of private land within the National Forest boundary. This line is expected to be done in a few more days. The masticators continue working west of the fire, improving along FR 8. The Sandia Helitack is still working at the end of Mesa Gurule toward the private land. The Sacramento and Black Mesa IHCs continue to hold the line on the east side. They will assess additional strategic firing operations with the more favorable weather ahead.

Weather and Smoke: The high temperature will be around 70 degrees, with minimum humidity around 13-17 percent. Winds will be west at 12-17 mph with gusts to 25 mph. Smoke is visible and local communities may experience smoke impacts along Highways 96, 112, and 84. For smoke impacts, visit www.fire.airnow.gov. 

Closures: Closure Order 03-10-01-24-02 is in place and includes all National Forest System lands within the boundary of the Coyote Ranger District starting from the Continental Divide trail #298 at Highway 96 going north across Forest Road (FR) 77, through the Chama River Canyon Wilderness to Skull Bridge (Ojitos Trail head) on FR 151. FR 11 northwest to the Chama River Canyon Wilderness boundary and Junction with FR 8; FR 169 (from junction with FR 11) south to FR 473; FR 473 south to FR 64; FR 64 South to the junction of FR 77; and FR 77 east to the Chama River Canyon Wilderness boundary. FR 77 from the Forest boundary and County Road 418 to the junction of FR 64 and FR 77. The Chama River Canyon Wilderness south of Rio Gallina and south of Rio Chama. Visit Inciweb for the full order and map.

For CDT hikers impacted by this closure, camping and water will be available at the Coyote Ranger Station. 

Temporary Flight Restrictions: There is a TFR in place around the fire area.

More Information: 575-323-2290 | 2024.indios@firenet.gov | x.com/SantafeNF 

facebook.com/santafeNF | inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/nmsnf-indios-wildfire