FRIJOLES FIRE EVENING UPDATE

FRIJOLES FIRE

EVENING UPDATE

Monday, August 17, 2026

Public Information: 505-407-5343                                       Acres: 11,335

Media Information: 505-230-5386                                       Containment: 9%

Hours: 8 a.m.–5 p.m.                                                              Start Date: August 4, 2026

Email: 2026.frijoles@firenet.gov                                           Cause: Lightning

Incident Website:                                                                   Personnel: 695

https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/nmsnf-frijoles-fire

 Community Meeting Tuesday, August 18 in Santa Fe

Operational Update: After a late morning aerial flight, yesterday’s increase on the northeastern portion of the fire was mapped at 1,996 acres within the Pecos Wilderness. The combination of alignment, dry vegetation, and steep terrain allowed for the continuous eastward spread. Today, firefighters working in tandem with aerial resources made progress building containment line along the fire’s edge toward Cañon Navajo and down the western flank toward Rio Frijoles. The Night shift is working in a steep rugged, inaccessible terrain and will remain available for initial attack for any new fire starts.

There will be a community meeting on Tuesday, August 18th at the Santa Fe Convention Center (201 West Marcy Street) at 6 p.m. YouTube and Facebook live-stream will be available for those unable to attend in person.

Team 8 will continue working in close coordination with Santa Fe National Forest, New Mexico Forestry Division, Santa Fe County, Rio Arriba County, Pueblos, Tribes, and surrounding communities to ensure natural and cultural values at risk are minimally affected by suppression efforts.

Weather: Tonight will be partly cloudy with scattered showers and storms through midnight. Minimum temperatures will be in the mid 50°-64° with minimum relative humidity between 75-85%. Winds will be southwest 4-8 mph with higher gusts resulting from thunderstorms.

Evacuations:  InSanta Fe County, the Borrego Mesa area (specifically around FR 440 and FR 306) and Nambe Pueblo Lake remain in “Ready Status” and Camino de Canon in Cundiyo remains in “Go Status”. The rest of Cundiyo and Cerro Piñon have been placed on “Set Status”. In Rio Arriba County the community of Cordova remains in “Ready Status”.

Evacuation Shelter: For information call the Santa Fe County Fire information line (505) 428-3737

or visit https:// www.santafecountynm.gov/fire

Closures: There is a road closure for NM 503 between County Road 98 and State Road 76. Visitors are encouraged to avoid the fire area and use caution when traveling near firefighting operations.

The Santa Fe National Forest issued a new temporary forest area closure to include the Pecos Wilderness area on the Espanola Ranger District for the Frijoles Fire. The new forest order closure and map can be found in the attached document or here https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-publication/nmsnf-frijoles-fire/temporary-area-closure-order-for-frijoles-fire-08-15-2026

Additionally, there is a Temporary Road Closure Order affecting FR 306, from the intersection of FR 440 and FR 306, West to the Forest Boundary and FR 306. The closure can be found here https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-publication/nmsnf-frijoles-fire/temporary-road-closure-order-for-frijoles-fire-forest-road-306-08-09-2026