Single Publication

The Santa Fe National Forest Updates Black Feather Fire Closure Order 

Update: Monday, August 21, 2023 

Acres: 2,198 acres 

Start Date: August 5, 2023 

Cause: Lightning  

Fuels: Timber, Brush, Understory 

Containment: 28% 

Resources: 155 personnel 

Location: Approximately 9 miles south of Gallina, NM, on the Santa Fe National Forest, Coyote Ranger District. Near the Peñas Negras Trail in the San Pedro Parks Wilderness.   

Highlights: The Santa Fe National Forest has revised the area, road, and trail closures in the Coyote Ranger District. The updated order lifts restrictions on some of the roads impacted by the Black Feather Fire, including Road 103. See the full closure order to review specific locations that are open and those that remain closed at https://bit.ly/BlackFeatherClosureUpdate. Fire crews and heavy equipment continue to use local roads for active firefighting and suppression repair activities, including relying on Road 103 as primary means of entry and exit. Please use caution when traveling in the area.  

Hotshot crews were able to reach portions of the fire within the wilderness, locating areas of more active fire and scouting locations that can safely be accessed for future suppression activities. Crews outside of the wilderness finalized chipping operations and continued to work on containment lines along the eastern edge of the fire.  

Operations: Today, suppression efforts will continue within the wilderness and along the eastern edge of the fire. Crews will utilize an infrared drone to help identify areas with greater fire activity and focus their efforts on those locations. With heavy dead, down and standing timber in the wilderness, fire managers are carefully monitoring suppression activities in relation to weather and fire behavior to ensure incident objectives are met while remaining focused on firefighter safety.  

Safety: Equipment and fire crews are actively moving in and around the fire area, including roads reopening today. Please use caution when traveling around the Black Feather Fire. The Temporary Flight Restriction is still in place. Please do not fly drones anywhere near the fire. If you fly, we can’t fly. 

Weather: Mostly sunny then becoming partly cloudy in the afternoon with scattered showers and thunderstorms. Highs will be in the low 70s. Warm, dry, breezy and unstable conditions persist, but a gradual moistening trend is forecast early week that will bring humidity up and also bring back chances for wetting storms.  

Restrictions/Closures: Effective Monday, August 21, the Santa Fe National Forest has issued an updated area, road, and trail closure in part of the Coyote Ranger District. See https://bit.ly/BlackFeatherClosureUpdate for information and a corresponding map. Forest Road 103 is now open. Closures will be adjusted based on fire activity.   

Smoke: Variations in temperatures, humidity & fire activity will impact smoke conditions in the coming days and weeks. Smoke may be more and less visible in the area as active smoldering takes place. Smoke-sensitive individuals and people with respiratory problems or heart disease are encouraged to take precautionary measures. Air quality information is available at https://www.airnow.gov/.  

Evacuations:  The communities of Mesa Pinabetal, Mesa Poleo, and Wetherill remain in ‘Ready’ status. The Coyote Senior Center is open to evacuees, and livestock can be taken to the Rio Arriba Rural Event Center near Abiquiu. The Rio Arriba County Sheriff’s Office will coordinate evacuations if they go into effect. For more information, use the QR code below and visit the Sheriff’s Office Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100079688263048. 

Fire Information: 505-460-0499 – 2023.blackfeather@firenet.gov  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blackfeatherfireinfo 

New Mexico Fire Information: https://nmfireinfo.com/