Single Publication

Acres: 2700 acres

Start Date: August 5, 2023

Cause: Lightning

Fuels: Timber, Brush, Understory

Containment: 0%

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

Highlights: The lightning-caused Black Feather Fire was discovered on August 5, 2023, in the San Pedro Parks Wilderness. The fire has since moved out of the wilderness to the east and has the potential to threaten communities in the area. On Monday, August 7, 2023, the Northern New Mexico Type 3 Incident Management Team assumed command of the fire and continued with full-suppression tactics. Southwest Area Type 1 Team 2, led by Incident Commander Dave Bales, transferred command of the fire at 7:00 this morning. Incident objectives include firefighter safety, and protecting property, infrastructure, and other values at risk, including timber and watershed.

A community meeting will be held for the Black Feather Fire on Thursday, August 10, at 7 p.m. at the Coronado High School Campus at 1903 NM-96, Gallina, NM 87017, and will be live-streamed on the Black Feather Fire Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100095598220079 (no account is needed to view this live-stream).

Operations:  Today, firefighter full-suppression efforts will be concentrated on the eastern flank of the fire, scouting for possible new containment lines and improving existing containment lines. Structure protection crews will be evaluating properties and communities along the eastern edge of the fire area and developing strategies in the event the fire continues moving out of the wilderness area. Currently, firefighting resources include six hotshot crews, 11 engines, six helicopters, and various fixed-wing support aircraft, with more resources arriving daily.

Evacuations:  The communities of Mesa Pinebetal and Mesa Poleo have been placed in ‘Set’ status. The community of Wetherill is 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 is coordinating evacuations, for more information, visit the Sheriff’s Office Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100079688263048

Safety: Please stay out of the fire area to allow crews safe access to the fire. A Temporary Flight Restriction is in place around the fire area. Please do not fly drones anywhere near the fire. If you fly, we can’t fly.

Weather:  Today should be warmer and drier than yesterday; expect highs around 70°. Any showers or storms that develop today are expected to be far southwest of the fire, allowing relative humidity to fall to around 20° this afternoon. Look for winds generally out of the northwest in the teens with gusts into the 20s.

Restrictions/Closures: People are discouraged from traveling on Forest Road 103, which connects NM 96 to NM 126, and from using the continental divide trail along the San Pedro Parks Wilderness section. Road closures are being adjusted based on fire activity.  

Smoke: 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/

Fire Information: 505-460-0499

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100095598220079