Frijoles Fire Expands Amid Monsoon Weather in Northern New Mexico
The Frijoles Fire in the Pecos Wilderness of Santa Fe National Forest, New Mexico, has grown by 400 acres, reaching approximately 8,200 acres as of Thursday evening, August 13, 2026. This wildfire, the largest in New Mexico this month, was initially sparked by lightning on August 4. The National Weather Service had forecasted the return of monsoon weather to northern New Mexico, which materialized Thursday evening with thunderstorms bringing both rain and additional lightning strikes. These conditions have contributed to the fire's growth, while containment has reportedly dropped from 1% to 0% according to Watch Duty estimates. The monsoon storms have been drier than usual this season, providing little relief to the fire-affected areas. (Source: Albuquerque Journal, published August 14, 2026, 02:49 UTC)