Small Frijoles Canyon fire continues to smolder at Bandelier National Monument in Los Alamos

A single-tree, lightning-caused fire in upper Frijoles Canyon was reported Monday evening in Bandelier National Monument. The fire, the Frijoles Fire, is about five miles southwest of Los Alamos, creeping low and smoldering with flame lengths of less than 1 foot. The area received some rain the same evening it was reported and weather forecasts predict thundershowers by early next week. Low intensity, naturally caused wildfires burned the forested areas of the Jemez Mountains every seven to 15 years historically. The area around the Frijoles Fire last burned in the 2011 Las Conchas Fire. Fire Managers at Bandelier are seeing this low intensity fire as an opportunity to reduce the fine fuel and debris on the forest floor by allowing it to burn. Doing so helps restore natural conditions in this fire-dependent ecosystem. Firefighters are monitoring the Frijoles Fire and are ready take actions as necessary for public safety.
Los Alamos Daily Post

Albuquerque Fire Rescue responds to reports of smoke at well-known abandoned Nob Hill church

Firefighters have responded to reports of smoke at an abandoned church in southeast Albuquerque Thursday morning. Albuquerque Fire Rescue arrived at the old Trinity Methodist Church just before 7 a.m. where smoke was coming from. No flames have been reported. The church located near Solano and Central in Nob Hill is owned by former Albuquerque realtor Christopher Pino. In April of 2019, KRQE reported the church was for sale for $1.1 million. In August 2018, Pino was sentenced to more than three years in jail for manslaughter after he hit and killed a homeless man with his Hummer after he accused him of breaking into the vacant church.
KRQE-TV CBS/FOX 13 Albuquerque

Dexter community aids couple who lost their home in fire

A family in Dexter have received an outpouring of support from their community after recently losing their house a week ago. Sandra and Andy Tarin — both volunteers with Dexter Fire and Rescue — had lost their home at 613 Spruce St. to a fire July 8. Now the couple, and their three sons, Roberto, 4; Julian, 2; and Giovanni, 1; must start all over again. Sandra Tarin — also known by her maiden name, Sandra Delgado — said on the day after the fire ripped through her two-bedroom home, that she was shocked by what had happened. “It’s hard to believe this happened to me — to me and my family,” Delgado said as she stood amid the charred remnants of her bedroom. Justin Powell, fire chief with Dexter Fire & Rescue said the fire is believed to have started in the master bedroom, but the cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Roswell Daily Record