The Frijoles fire in Santa Fe County, caused by a lightning strike, continues to spread, worsening air quality and impacting residents in nearby areas with respiratory issues. Residents like Shelley Olguin, who struggles with asthma, are feeling the immediate effects of the smoke. “You kind of get a shortness of breath. And you just feel like you’re gasping for air,” Olguin said.

Fire Impact

The fire has been burning since last week, and roads near the area have been closed to non-residents and non-emergency personnel due to visibility issues. Española Fire Chief John Wickersham confirmed the fire was caused by a lightning strike, which he said is a frequent occurrence. “It’s unfortunate that these things happen,” Wickersham said. “It’s something that’s just Mother Nature and we can’t control — we can just hope and pray for rain.”

Other residents, many of whom also suffer from asthma, have reported worsening symptoms under the hazy air quality. Officials are encouraging the community to remain resilient. “We’re a strong community [and a] strong state,” Wickersham said. “So hopefully we can recover quickly and move on.”

Residents like Olguin are hoping for continued support from local governments. “Anything that they can do would help us,” she said. Currently, 150 people in the Española surrounding areas are under a “ready” order, which could turn into an evacuation order at any point. Fire officials are advising residents with respiratory issues or sensitivity to poor air quality to wear masks and keep their windows and doors closed.

Original reporting: KOAT Albuquerque — read the source article.