Monday evening’s update reported 695 personnel assigned to the lightning-caused fire, which has been burning since Aug. 4.
Source: Frijoles Fire (via Facebook)
Photos: Courtesy inciweb.wildfire.gov
The Frijoles Fire has grown to 11,335 acres with containment reaching 9% as nearly 700 personnel continue suppression efforts in steep terrain west of Santa Fe.
Monday evening’s update reported 695 personnel assigned to the lightning-caused fire, which has been burning since Aug. 4.
A significant portion of the fire’s recent growth occurred along its northeastern side within the Pecos Wilderness. An aerial mapping flight determined that Sunday’s increase there totaled 1,996 acres.
Fire officials attributed the eastward spread to a combination of dry vegetation, steep terrain and conditions that aligned to allow continuous fire movement.
On Monday, ground crews working with aerial resources made progress constructing containment line along the fire’s edge toward Cañon Navajo and down the western flank toward Rio Frijoles.
Night crews are continuing operations in steep, rugged terrain and will also remain available to respond to any new fire starts.
Pecos Wilderness Area Included in New Closure
The Santa Fe National Forest has issued a new temporary forest area closure that includes the Pecos Wilderness within the Española Ranger District.
The closure represents a change from earlier Frijoles Fire updates, when officials had urged the public to avoid the affected portion of the wilderness but had not yet placed it under a closure order.
A separate temporary closure remains in effect for Forest Road 306, and NM 503 remains closed between County Road 98 and State Road 76.
Evacuation Statuses Remain in Place
Evacuation statuses reported Monday evening remain:
- GO: Camino de Cañon in Cundiyó.
- SET: The remainder of Cundiyó and Cerro Piñon.
- READY: Borrego Mesa around Forest Roads 440 and 306, Nambé Pueblo Lake and the community of Cordova in Rio Arriba County.
Santa Fe County’s fire information line for evacuation shelter information is 505-428-3737.
Community Meeting Tuesday in Santa Fe
Fire officials will hold a community meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 18, at the Santa Fe Convention Center, 201 W. Marcy Street.
The meeting will also be livestreamed through YouTube and Facebook for people unable to attend in person.
California Complex Incident Management Team 8 continues coordinating suppression operations with the Santa Fe National Forest, New Mexico Forestry Division, Santa Fe and Rio Arriba counties, Pueblos, Tribes and surrounding communities.
For Monday night, fire officials forecast partly cloudy conditions with scattered showers and thunderstorms through midnight. Relative humidity was expected to rise to between 75 and 85 percent, with thunderstorm activity capable of producing higher wind gusts.
The Frijoles Fire remains under full suppression strategy.
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