Operations Section Chief Chad Rice providing an operational update Thursday on the Black Feather Fire. Courtesy/ inciweb.wildfire.gov

Fire Information Morning Update:

Firefighters battling the Black Feather Fire burning approximately 9 miles south of Gallina on the Coyote Ranger District, on the San Pedro Parks Wilderness, near the Peñas Negras Trail on the Santa Fe National Forest, have reduced the size of the blaze overnight from 2,352 acres to 2,158 acres. The fire is burning timber, brush and understory.

Highlights: 

In response to the lighting-caused Black Feather Fire, the Santa Fe National Forest has issued a closure order in part of the Coyote Ranger District. See bit.ly/BlackFeatherClosure for more information and a corresponding map. While the predicted rain and thunderstorms did not materialize yesterday, the calmer weather allowed crews to continue work on the fire line all day, where they were able to identify and contain hotspots beyond the established fire edge. Resources on the fire include 464 personnel, 7 hotshot crews, 25 engines, 3 helicopters, 4 dozers, 5 water tenders, and numerous fix-wing aircraft. The change in reported acreage occurred due to more accurate mapping of the fire.

Operations: 

Today, crews will continue their full-suppression strategy as they work to connect containment lines using a combination of equipment, existing road systems, and handline. Prep work on older road systems, including the 93, 103, 76, and 70, will continue to improve and begin to tie together the primary and contingency lines near the surrounding communities. Hotshot crews on the eastern edge are working to provide access closer to the fire’s perimeter, and structure protection crews continue to evaluate and develop a response plan in the event the fire moves closer to the surrounding communities.

Evacuations:  

The communities of Mesa Pinebetal and Mesa Poleo remain 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/blackfeatherfireinfo

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: 

Temperatures are expected to rise to around 80º today, with relative humidity falling below 30%. Winds today will come out of the west at around 10 mph, with gusts up to 20. Moisture will begin to push in this weekend with potential scattered showers and storms from the south. Rain chances will increase significantly through the weekend as monsoonal moisture becomes more established across the state.

Restrictions/Closures:

The Santa Fe National Forest has a partial closure order in place for the Coyote Ranger District. See bit.ly/BlackFeatherClosure for information and a corresponding map. Forest Road 103 is closed to non-residential traffic. Please use caution if traveling in the area and keep an eye out for firefighters and heavy equipment in the area. Closures will be 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/