Single Publication

Firefighters identify objectives for lightning-caused Indios Fire

Acres: 4,844                                                                             

Start Date: 5/19/2024

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

Personnel: 440

Completion: 0%                                                                       

Fuels: Timber

Highlights: Fire managers are measuring progress on the lightning-caused Indios Fire in terms of percent completion of management objectives, rather than traditional percent containment. Percent completion of objectives more accurately reports the specific amount of work accomplished on the ground to manage fire spread and reduce the negative impacts to communities, infrastructure, and other identified values. Using percent completion illustrates the accomplishment of objectives each day. On the Indios Fire, the intended operational objectives are to reintroduce fire into a fire-dependent ecosystem to reduce future wildfire severity. Benefits will include reduction of hazardous fuels, encouraging native growth, and improving range and watershed conditions, species diversity, and wildlife habitat.

Operations: Firefighters continue efforts to confine the Indios Fire within the planning area. Confinement is a wildfire response strategy that restricts a wildfire to a defined area, primarily using natural barriers. Additional response actions are sometimes needed to augment or connect natural barriers. Firefighters are focusing on prepping the perimeter of the confinement area by removing and chipping vegetation along existing roads and constructing handlines to connect and build a continuous boundary to restrict fire spread. Yesterday, crews placed a 10,000-gallon portable water tank near the western portion of the fire to provide a water source for fire management activities. Uncrewed aircraft systems (i.e., drones) were used to aerially ignite an unburned area to close the gap between two actively burning areas on the eastern portion of the fire. Firefighters will continue handline construction and fuels reduction activities in the coming days.

Weather: Over the next few days, potential thunderstorm activity will move over eastern New Mexico. This weather activity brings a 30% chance of precipitation today with mid-level moisture leading to wind gusts on the surface. Weather conditions should be conducive to beneficial fire effects into the afternoon and early evening. 

Smoke: Smoke from the Indios Fire may continue to be visible in the surrounding communities. Smoke-sensitive individuals and people with respiratory problems or heart disease are encouraged to take precautionary measures. Learn more about smoke impacts on the New Mexico Environment Department website at https://www.env.nm.gov/air-quality/fire-smoke-links/. An interactive smoke map at https://fire.airnow.gov/ allows you to zoom into your area to see the latest smoke conditions.

Closures: The Santa Fe National Forest has issued an emergency area closure for the Indios Fire. The purpose of the closure order is to protect public health and safety and the safety of all personnel working on the 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: The health and safety of firefighters and the public are always the first priority. Members of the public should stay away from Indios Fire operations. 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/. 

More Information: inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/nmsnf-indios-wildfire / 

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