Single Publication

Great progress is being made on The Black Feather Fire

Acres: 2,198 acres

Start Date: August 5, 2023

Cause: Lightning

Fuels: Timber, Brush, Understory

Containment: 28%

Resources: 119 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: Hand crews and repellers worked along the wilderness boundary and progressed line construction to the West. While the repellers and hand crews were working, the helicopter aided with bucket work extinguishing hot spots. The grader and water tender are working to improve the road conditions.  Use caution while traveling in this area.

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 fire's perimeter.

Operations: Suppression efforts are continuing within the wilderness and along the Eastern edge of the fire. As most of the fire is located in the wilderness, firefighters are working in steep terrain with heavy dead and down logs and fire weakened trees. 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: Showers and thunderstorms are expected to start prior to the noon hour on Saturday over or very near the Black Feather fire. Showers and thunderstorms may be periodic through the mid evening hours. Heavy rainfall will be possible. Showers and thunderstorms remain possible on Sunday, but confidence that it will impact the burn area is lower.  

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/