Frijoles fire burn scar raises flooding concerns for nearby residents

SANTA FE COUNTY, N.M. —

As crews gain control over the Frijoles fire, officials are now focusing on how the burn scar could affect flooding in nearby areas.

The Frijoles fire, sparked by lightning on August 4, has burned more than 15,000 acres. Aerial views show blackened hillsides and burned trees alongside pockets of green.

Forest Service officials are emphasizing the importance of understanding the fire’s impact on the soil. Claudia Berkshire, a public affairs officer with the Santa Fe National Forest, explained the role of healthy soil.

“Soil acts like a sponge when it’s healthy, and fire can greatly affect the soil,” Berkshire said.

The Santa Fe National Forest has initiated a Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) assessment to evaluate the soil burn severity. In areas where the fire burned more severely, the ground may no longer absorb water as it did before, altering how water moves through the region after storms.

“There can be increased erosion. Communities may experience large-scale debris flows or post-fire flooding. So they’re looking at the soil burn severity and how that may affect drainages and watersheds to communities downstream,” Berkshire said.

Officials are examining watersheds below the fire to determine where water could flow as it moves downhill. While the soil burn severity is still being assessed, there is some encouraging news.

“I think the important thing is that about 80% of the fire burned at low severity,” Berkshire said.

This suggests less impact across much of the burn area. So far, officials have not identified a specific flood threat, but they are urging residents near and downstream of the burn area to monitor the weather, especially during heavy rainfall.

The soil burn severity map is expected to be released tomorrow, providing further insight into the fire’s impact.