Frijoles Fire Nears 14,000 Acres as 31% Containment Leaves 1,000 Structures at Risk
Updated
Updated · Source New Mexico · Aug 20
Frijoles Fire Nears 14,000 Acres as 31% Containment Leaves 1,000 Structures at Risk
3 articles · Updated · Source New Mexico · Aug 20
Summary
Nearly 14,000 acres of the lightning-caused Frijoles Fire had burned by Thursday morning, with containment at 31% as crews battled the blaze in the Pecos Wilderness.
866 personnel are facing steep, rugged terrain and poor access that slow line construction, while limited Type 1 crews are being shifted around the fire instead of building continuous containment lines.
Smoke pushed by Wednesday’s weather prompted New Mexico to issue a health advisory, add two air monitors and plan a third, with Santa Fe monitors showing unhealthy air quality Thursday morning.
11 people have evacuated and three are sheltering in place; no structures have burned, but more than 100 structures near Cundiyó and over 1,000 in Truchas are threatened.
Incident commanders warned a narrowing window of favorable weather—before hotter, drier conditions return—could intensify fire behavior, while smoke and closures are already hurting local tourism, festivals and hunting.