Local Type 4 organization assumes command of the Frijoles Fire

Santa Fe, N.M., September 10, 2026 – The local Type 4 organization from the Espanola Ranger District and Santa Fe National Forest assumed command of the Frijoles Fire the evening of September 8 at 6:00 pm Mountain Daylight Time.

Ongoing & Planned Operations: The fire is currently 15,483 acres and 79% contained. Crews continue to repair damage caused by the fire suppression efforts. Firefighters are still actively suppressing the fire along the eastern perimeter which still has heat. Due to the rugged and hazardous terrain of the Pecos Wilderness, fire suppression efforts will be slow, and smoke will be visible for the foreseeable future. Firefighter and public safety are the number one priority, and firefighters will assess the safest methods for suppressing the eastern flank of the fire. Drying trends and consistent sunshine on the fuels surrounding the fire provide potential for fire growth.

In addition to the Type 4 organization, the Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) Team will continue assessments under the management of the local forest unit. The Frijoles Fire information phone line as well as the Frijoles Fire incident email will be available for information regarding the BAER assessment.

Air Quality & Smoke: Smoke from the eastern flank of the fire will be visible as active surface fire behavior consumes available fuels. Smoke may also settle at the base of the Sangre de Cristo mountains, the communities of Espanola, Santa Cruz, Chimayo, Cordova, Nambe, Pojoaque and Tesuque may experience smoke settling in the evenings and early mornings. Smoke will be visible from those communities as well as from Los Alamos and Santa Fe.

Safety: A temporary forest area closure remains in effect on the Santa Fe National Forest, including the Pecos Wilderness area in the Espanola Ranger District. 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.

Unauthorized drone use can impede firefighting operations and presents a risk to firefighter safety.

About the Forest Service: The USDA Forest Service has for more than 100 years brought people and communities together to answer the call of conservation. Grounded in world-class science and technology– and rooted in communities–the Forest Service connects people to nature and to each other. The Forest Service cares for shared natural resources in ways that promote lasting economic, ecological, and social vitality. The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, provides assistance to state and private landowners, maintains the largest wildland fire and forestry research organizations in the world. The Forest Service also has either a direct or indirect role in stewardship of about 900 million forested acres within the U.S., of which over 130 million acres are urban forests where most Americans live.