Indios Fire Daily Update: June 7, 2024

Southwest Area Incident Management Team

TEAM 4 – AARON HULBURD – INCIDENT COMMANDER

Resources shift as repair activities continue

Acres: 11,500                                                                          

Start Date: May 19, 2024

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

Personnel: 415

Completion: 86%                                                                    

Fuels: Timber

Highlights: Completion remains at 86% today as crews continue repair and mop-up activities around the fire perimeter. Suppression repair activities are focused on the northwestern fire area where the majority of firefighting actions were implemented. As firefighters complete suppression repair along the western flank, crews are being redistributed to other areas to support ongoing chipping operations.

Operations: As the fire activity diminishes, crews continue to patrol and monitor the fire perimeter to search for any remaining hot spots. Firefighters continued repair activities on the western side where the fire temporarily crossed the line last week before crews successfully stopped the spread. Yesterday, smoke was visible on the western side of the fire perimeter. Crews were sent to the area to investigate on the ground while an uncrewed aircraft system, also known as a drone, assisted the search by air. Firefighters determined that the source of the smoke was an interior pocket of unburned green vegetation inside the fire control lines. Due to its location, firefighters determined that the smoldering fire posed no threat to the control lines. Further south along the western flank, chipping and grading activities were completed on Forest Roads 64 and 77 near Corrales Ranch. These crews then shifted to address repair and chipping needs on Forest Roads 64A and 467. A large chipping operation is ongoing along these roads to ensure that all cut brush is removed or reduced to small wood chips to minimize the likelihood of future ignition. Firefighters who completed structure assessments for residents south of the fire have now been reassigned to respond to any potential new fire starts near the Indios Fire. Crews from the eastern side of the fire will be redistributed to other areas to assist in suppression repair, including backhauling equipment and installing water bars along handlines to minimize erosion.

Weather: Mid-level cloud cover will move into the area today; however, temperatures remain high and humidity values remain low. Scattered thunderstorms may form to the east with a chance for outflow winds and rain over the fire. Much better chances for showers and thunderstorms are expected on Sunday and Monday with possible wetting rains. Strong gusty winds are possible near any storms.

Smoke: Minimal smoke impacts are expected for the foreseeable future. Light dispersed visible smoke will diminish over the next few days. Smoke sensors have been installed and will remain in the communities of Coyote, Gallina, Cañones, and at the Monastery of Christ in the Desert. 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

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