Single Publication

Firefighters reach 41% completion on the Indios Fire

Daily Update – Saturday, June 1, 2024

Acres: 11,129                                                                           

Start Date: May 19, 2024

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

Personnel: 697

Completion: 41%                                                                     

Fuels: Timber

Highlights: Firefighters successfully applied low intensity fire along Forest Road 77 to prevent fire progression to the south and protect important values, including private property. Fire managers completed a reconnaissance flight over the fire area and observed a mosaic pattern of burned and unburned areas. Large pockets of unburned fuel, referred to as “green islands,” remain within the fire area. Smoke continues to settle in the surrounding communities to the northeast of the fire area.

Operations: Increased cloud cover and higher humidity moderated fire activity yesterday morning. As temperatures increased in the afternoon, crews worked along the northwest edge of the fire to improve and hold the firelines by laying hose and removing snags, while also watching for any spot fires. Crews worked alongside heavy equipment to strengthen and reinforce dozer lines put in place the previous night. In the southwest corner of the fire, crews ignited fuels around the north end of the private property to remove vegetation and create a protective barrier, while others worked to further widen these protection lines. The interior of the fire area burned naturally throughout the day at varying intensities depending on terrain. Multiple aircraft, seven ground crews, and six engines worked together to plan and implement a well-organized burning operation down the Gurule Mesa. Today, crews will continue to reinforce primary and secondary firelines and patrol the perimeter for spot fires. Strategic firing operations conducted by crews on the ground and aircraft will continue across Gurule Mesa to reduce fire intensity and minimize impacts to the watershed.

Weather: Similar temperatures are expected for today, while humidity levels may drop in the afternoon. The chance of precipitation remains at 10%. Winds out of the southwest will move up canyon and likely pick up tomorrow. Warming and drying trends will likely continue over the next week, leading to active fire conditions.

Smoke: Smoke continues to impact surrounding communities. Additional 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 a new emergency area closure for the Indios Fire. The full closure order (No. 03-12-05-23-22) and map are available on Inciweb. Camping, water, and shuttle service 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