Rain and cloud cover provide temporary relief for firefighters on the Frijoles Fire

Contact:  
(505) 407-5343 
2026.frijoles@firenet.gov 
fs.usda.gov/r03/santafe 

Santa Fe, N.M., September 16, 2026 – Rain and cloud cover provide temporary relief for firefighters on the Frijoles Fire. Cooler temperatures and higher humidity will help with fuel moisture recovery in the fire area. Wet conditions are likely the next couple of days, rainfall amount through this afternoon is expected to be between one quarter and three quarters of an inch. Less smoke is expected and fire growth is temporarily halted.

Ongoing & Planned Operations: The fire is currently 15,956 acres and 74% contained, with 49 personnel assigned to the fire. Suppression repair is ongoing and firefighters continue to assess safe access and tactics to fully suppress the fire within the rugged and hazardous terrain of the Pecos Wilderness.

The Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) Team continue assessments to determine post fire impacts. The Soil Burn Severity map was released and can be viewed on Inciweb. 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 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: Avoid traveling in arroyos or stream beds if rain is likely or you see monsoon clouds building. If you get caught off guard, move quickly to higher ground and wait for the water to recede. Don’t enter floodwaters – they may be stronger than you think and the ground beneath could be unstable. The temporary forest area closure was terminated Saturday, September 12, 2026. While the area is now open to the public, we urge visitors to be aware of fire traffic in the area. Firefighter and public safety are the number one priority. Use caution as fire vehicles and heavy equipment are present near the fire and still pose a driving hazard.

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

For more information, visit the Santa Fe National Forest website, social media (Facebook and X), InciWeb, and NM Fire Information. The next Frijoles Fire daily update will be provided Friday, September 18, 2026.

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.