Indios Fire consumes 5,487 acres near Coyote

Forest Service News:

Firefighters are 5% complete on the Indios Wildfire in the Coyote Ranger District, which has consumed 5,487 acres as of today, May 29, 2024.

The wildfire was first reported Sunday afternoon, May 19, 2024, and is located 7 miles north of the village of Coyote, New Mexico, and burning in the Rio Chama Canyon Wilderness .

The cause of the forest fire is lightning.

Daily Update:

• Wednesday May 29, 2024
• Acres: 5,487
• Start date: May 19, 2024
• Location: 11 km north of the village of
• Staff: 553
• Completion: 5%
• Fuels: Wood

Strong points: Fire managers updated their assessment of accomplishments and increased the completion of operational objectives for the Indios Fire to 5%.

The Incident Management Team will provide the public with an opportunity to meet fire officials and ask questions about the Indios Fire during an open house from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday, May 30, in the Coronado High School Conference Room, 1903 NM-96. in Gallina.

Operations: On Tuesday, firefighters observed increased fire activity on the west side due to light winds, warmer temperatures and drier conditions. Aircraft equipped with infrared sensors flew 16,000 feet above the ground to detect and monitor fire growth to inform firefighting actions. The fire moved south to the interior edge of the fire zone as crews worked to strategically apply low-intensity burning ahead of the main fire to prevent any southward movement into beyond Forest Road 77. Fire behavior experts predict the fire will continue to advance slowly across the planned route. containment zone because the fire naturally aligns with the winds and deep canyons. Firefighters are using several helicopters to drop water to reduce the intensity of the fire, slow its progression and reduce the impact of the smoke. As crews continue to work, resource advisors help firefighters identify and avoid impacts to sensitive cultural and wildlife resources. To minimize the impact of dust on communities, fire trucks are spraying water on busy dirt roads, including Forest Road 8.

Weather report: Humidity increased significantly overnight, but as temperatures rise later today, conditions are expected to dry out. Along with potential thunderstorm activity over northeastern New Mexico, these conditions are expected to bring increased winds and a 10% chance of precipitation to the fire area today.

Smoke: Smoke from the Indios Fire is visible from surrounding communities. People sensitive to smoke and people with respiratory problems or heart conditions are encouraged to take precautionary measures. Learn more about smoke impacts on the New Mexico Environmental Department website at An interactive smoke map lets you zoom in on your area to see the latest smoke conditions. Daily smoke reports are posted on Inciweb and the social media pages below.

Closures: The Santa Fe National Forest has issued an emergency closure of the area due to the Indios Fire. The purpose of the closure order is to protect the health and safety of the public as well as the safety of all personnel working the fire. The complete closure order (n° 03-12-05-23-22) and the plan are available on Inciweb. Camping and water will be available at the Coyote Ranger Station for Continental Divide Trail hikers affected by this closure.

Security: The health and safety of firefighters and the public is 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 unmanned aircraft systems or drones.

For more information on the dangers drones pose to wildfirefighting aircraft and ground personnel, see:

More information: inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/nmsnf-indios-wildfire / 575-323-2290 / x.com/SantafeNF / facebook.com/santafeNF / [email protected]