The Black Feather Fire as seen from the air by Santa Fe National Forest officials Sunday afternoon when the fire was estimated to have consumed some 1,500 acres. Photo Courtesy SFNF

BY MAIRE O’NEILL
maire@losalamosreporter.com
7 a.m. Monday, Aug. 7

Los Alamos residents observed the all to familiar sight Sunday afternoon of smoke in the air close to the community. Los Alamos Fire Department confirmed late afternoon that the smoke is from the Black Feather Fire 25 miles away in the San Pedro Parks Wilderness Area in the Coyote Ranger District. Santa Fe National Forest officials have indicated that the fire, which started Saturday, was lightning-caused and by Sunday afternoon estimated it at 1,500 acres.

A full suppression response has been implemented including five large air tankers, one very large air tanker, helicopters, air attack and a lead plane and several hotshot fire teams were expected to join the efforts to control the fire.

Rio Arriba County Sheriff’s Office has announced that an evacuation center as been established at the Coyote Senior Center. RASO and Rio Arriba Emergency Management has a command center at the Rural Events Center off State 554 near Abiquiu. Animals and livestock may be evacuated to the events center if necessary.

Los Alamos Fire Chief Troy Hughes told the Reporter Sunday evening that the area has not experienced such high temperatures in August for some time. He noted that the monsoon that was expected to start last week had fizzled leaving extremely dry conditions through the region. With hot, dry, windy conditions in the forecast, similar fire behavior is expected over the next few days. Hughes was expected to travel to the area of the fire Monday.

More information will be provided as it becomes available. Please check the Santa Fe National Forest website: www.fs.usda.gov/santafe,
Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/ 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/santafeNF/
NMfireinfo: NM Fire Info | New Mexico Fire Information