Single Publication

Firefighters prepare for increased winds on the Indios Fire

Daily Update – Sunday, June 2, 2024

Acres: 11,505                                                                                              

Start Date: May 19, 2024

Location: 7 miles north of the village of Coyote, NM                      

Personnel: 679

Completion: 50%                                                                                       

Fuels: Timber

Highlights: Crews have successfully reached 50% completion of operational objectives on the Indios Fire. Yesterday, fire activity was generally quiet along the northwest, north, and southeast flanks of the fire. In the southwest portion of the fire area, southern winds contributed to an additional 376 acres of growth which briefly resulted in increased afternoon smoke. Fire managers completed another reconnaissance flight over the fire area yesterday afternoon and observed large areas of unburned fuel in the interior of the fire. Smoke in the surrounding communities to the northeast of the fire area was diminished yesterday.

Operations: Along the southwestern perimeter of the fire, control lines placed around the private property held overnight and throughout the day. Firefighters continued to strengthen these firelines by cutting and piling downed trees and extinguishing or removing any burning material near the control lines. Hoses, sprinklers, and water pumps were also installed around the private property to further strengthen these protections. After these lines were successfully reinforced, helicopters were used to conduct aerial ignitions further down slope from the private property. As afternoon temperatures increased, helicopters also assisted ground crews by dropping water buckets to reduce fire intensity as it spread across the landscape. Wind direction continues to drive the fire as it consumes vegetation inside the control lines, slowly burning through the interior of the fire perimeter. Today, crews will prepare for predicted winds by reinforcing primary and secondary firelines and remaining vigilant in their patrols to ensure fire does not cross established control lines.

Weather: Increased wind speeds and much drier air are expected to move over the fire area today. This will mark the start of several days of very dry conditions and breezy afternoons that could result in burn periods extending into the evening. The area is expected to experience an increased chance of thunderstorms later next week. 

Smoke: Smoke continues to impact surrounding communities. Smoke monitors have been installed in Coyote, Gallina, Cañones, and at the Monastery of Christ in the Desert. Smoke-sensitive individuals and people with respiratory problems or heart disease are encouraged to take precautions. A smoke outlook report for the Indios Fire is available online at the links below. View an interactive smoke map at https://fire.airnow.gov/. Learn more about smoke impacts at https://www.env.nm.gov/air-quality/fire-smoke-links/. 

Closures: The Santa Fe National Forest has issued an emergency area closure for the Indios Fire. The full closure order (No. 03-12-05-23-22) and map are available on Inciweb. Camping and water will be available at the Coyote Ranger Station for Continental Divide Trail hikers impacted by this closure. 

Safety: A temporary flight restriction (TFR) is in place over the area, which includes uncrewed aircraft systems or drones. More information on the dangers drones pose to wildland firefighting aircraft and personnel on the ground can be found at: https://uas.nifc.gov/. 

inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/nmsnf-indios-wildfire / nmfireinfo.com /

575-323-2290 / x.com/SantafeNF / facebook.com/santafeNF / 2024.indios@firenet.gov