Frijoles Fire grows to 1,000 acres in New Mexico's Pecos Wilderness

The Frijoles Fire, ignited by lightning on August 4, 2026, has grown to approximately 1,000 acres in the Pecos Wilderness Area within the Espanola Ranger District. The fire is located in steep terrain near Sierra Mosca and Cundiyo, New Mexico.

As of August 8, containment remains at 0%. Firefighting efforts involve 86 personnel, including hotshots and a Type 3 Incident Management Team. Operations include constructing indirect containment lines with bulldozers, building lines west of the fire, and utilizing large air tankers and three helicopters to drop water and retardant.

Santa Fe County has issued a “Ready Status” for the communities of Cundiyo and Cerro Piñon, and closed NM 503 between County Road 98 and State Road 76. Crews have also begun structure assessments in Canyon Chimayo, Cerro Pinon, and at the Gorham Boy Scout Ranch. Officials have warned that drone activity has previously impeded aviation suppression efforts.