Single Publication

Friday, August 25, 2023

Line Construction and Rehab work continues on The Black Feather Fire

Acres: 2,198 acres

Start Date: August 5, 2023

Cause: Lightning

Fuels: Timber, Brush, Understory

Containment: 28%

Resources: 139 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: Resources continue to work the Eastern section of line and continue along the wilderness boundary. Progressing and securing the fires edge. Aircraft firefighters utilized the UAS (Unmanned aircraft system) with infrared capabilities to scout for hotspots and areas of concern that aren’t easy to see on foot. The crews were able to locate and extinguish the hotspots that the drone identified.  Making great progress and securing any area of concern.

Hand crews gained more progress in the wilderness in continuing and securing the fires edge. Engine crews outside of the wilderness have been patrolling and monitoring the fires edge along with securing any hotspots or smoke showing within the fires perimeter.

Operations: Suppression efforts are continuing within the wilderness and along the Eastern edge of the fire. With heavy dead and down logs and duff layers, fire will continue to smolder. Crews and engines are actively suppressing and monitoring 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. 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: Plentiful moister will continue the potential for wetting showers and thunderstorms Thursday through Friday. Cell motions will be mainly from south to north Thursday then trend from southwest to the northeast Thursday night and Friday, but will be slower moving on Friday. Excellent overnight humidity recovery. Slight warming and drying trend from Thursday and Friday.

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 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

InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident-information/nmsnf-black-feather-fire

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

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