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[SITUATION] · [QUIET] · [INTERNATIONAL]

6 clusters · 10 sources · 17 days · First seen · Last updated

Frijoles Fire reaches 55% containment at 15,252 acres

Overview

The Frijoles Fire, ignited by lightning on August 4, 2026, in the Pecos Wilderness Area of New Mexico, continues to expand through steep terrain in the Santa Fe National Forest. As of August 14, the blaze had grown to nearly 8,200 acres with 0% containment. By August 17, the fire has expanded to 11,335 acres and reached 9% containment. Driven by topography and fuel, the blaze has moved toward the northeast into the Pecos Wilderness. Firefighting crews are currently focused on constructing containment lines along the fire’s edge through Cañon Navajo and the western flank toward Rio Frijoles and Cañon Chimayo. Efforts remain centered on protecting structures in Cundiyó, Gorham Boy Scout Ranch, and Cerro Piñon. Evacuation statuses have shifted as the fire progresses. In Cundiyó, Camino de Cañon remains under “GO status,” while the rest of Cundiyó and Cerro Piñon are at “SET status.” In Santa Fe County, the Borrego Mesa area near Forest Roads 440 and 306 has been moved to “SET status,” and Nambé Pueblo Lake remains in “READY status.” A community meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, August 18, at 6 p.m. at the Santa Fe Convention Center. As of August 19, the fire has grown to approximately 12,974 acres and reached 31% containment. A federal incident management team is employing a full-suppression strategy, focusing on securing the western flank. To support extended operations in remote eastern and southern areas, crews are planning to establish spike camps to reduce travel time to the fireline. Aerial resources, including helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft, continue to be used for retardant application. By August 25, the fire grew to approximately 15,252 acres and reached 55% containment. Operations are shifting toward repair and transitioning to the Southwest Areas Incident Management Team 4.

Entities

Santa Fe County · Frijoles Fire · Cundiyo · Pecos Wilderness · Santa Fe National Forest

Timeline

  1. 18 days ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 2 sources
    Frijoles Fire reaches 55% containment in Pecos Wilderness

    The Frijoles Fire in the Pecos Wilderness has reached 55% containment. Efforts continue amid the loss of firefighter Randy Lupe, a member of the San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation.

  2. 24 days ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 3 sources
    Frijoles Fire reaches 31% containment amid suppression efforts

    The Frijoles Fire has reached 31% containment and burned nearly 13,000 acres. Firefighters are using aerial retardant and establishing spike camps to manage the lightning-caused blaze.

  3. 26 days ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 2 sources
    Frijoles Fire burns 11,335 acres in New Mexico

    The Frijoles Fire has burned 11,335 acres in New Mexico with 9% containment. Several communities, including Borrego Mesa and Cundiyó, are under various evacuation readiness statuses.

  4. 29 days ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 2 sources
    New Mexico faces surge in lightning-caused wildfires

    New Mexico is facing an increase in lightning-caused wildfires, including the growing Frijoles Fire in Santa Fe County, which has reached nearly 8,200 acres with 0% containment.

  5. about 1 month ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 3 sources
    Frijoles Fire expands to 6,200 acres, forcing evacuations in New Mexico

    The lightning-caused Frijoles Fire has grown to over 6,200 acres in New Mexico, forcing evacuations in Cundiyo and prompting air quality alerts as crews struggle with 0% containment.

  6. about 1 month ago

    [CULTURE] 4 sources
    Frijoles Fire grows to 1,000 acres in New Mexico's Pecos Wilderness

    The Frijoles Fire in New Mexico's Pecos Wilderness has reached 1,000 acres with 0% containment. Firefighters are using air tankers and ground crews to combat the lightning-caused blaze.

Sources

dhillemann.medium.com · kob.com · larrylittlefield.wordpress.com · losalamosreporter.com · lostcoastoutpost.com · operawire.com · pagosadailypost.com · sfreporter.com · writersgig.com · yannigroth.com

This summary has been updated 4 times: see revision history