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Whenever you plan to head out on to your public lands, it's always wise to call ahead to the Field Office or Ranger Station that oversees your destination to check on local conditions. Point and click at the interactive map above to search all of the state's recreation sites for phone numbers and other details. |
New Mexico Fire News
NEW MEXICO RESTRICTIONS AND CLOSURES
LATEST FIRE NEWS
SEEING SMOKE IN NEW MEXICO? MAYBE IT'S INTENTIONAL
Show all Agency releases for New Mexico
PRESS SECTION -- click here to read official agency Press Releases and/or Restriction and Closure Orders
Latest Fire News
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Prescribed burns like this one help reduce fire danger, and so do following posted restrictions! Keep our public lands open this summer!
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LATEST FIRE NEWS
Week of June 29, 2009
In spite of many showers toward the end of May and some heavy rains up north in the first half of June, "Fire Season 2009" is still on-going in New Mexico. We have had some hot, dry weather and lots of windy "Red Flag" days and many of the rainstorms have carried enough lightning to spark up some actual wildfires - some are being carefully monitored while being allowed to burn and reduce dangerous fuel buildups.
Of course opportunities for outdoor fun on public lands abound year round, even during the spring and summer "fire season." While small fires may temporarily affect travel while being suppressed by fire crews, there is always some place where you can camp, hike, fish, visit historic sites or take a leisurely drive to enjoy the scenery.
Land management agencies, tribal governments, counties and cities pay particularly close attention to fire prevention and preparedness every year - regardless of moisture - to ensure that your outdoor experiences will be pleasant and safe. Often, controlled burning activities are also planned for the spring - see the PRESS SECTION for details.
YOUR bottom line? Always plan outdoor excursions wisely, call local authorities to check on any last-minute changes in conditions before you leave and BE CAREFUL OUT THERE! Remember, FIREWORKS are ALWAYS illegal on public lands!!
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Grill at Big Arsenic campground.
Outdoor fun on the Rio Grande.
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NEW MEXICO RESTRICTIONS AND CLOSURES
WHAT`S OPEN:
Most EVERYTHING!! except for the few areas listed below.
It`s always wise to call ahead to the Field Office or Ranger Station that oversees your destination to check on local conditions. Point-and-click your way around the interactive map of New Mexico above to search all of the state's recreation sites for phone numbers and other details.
WHAT`S RESTRICTED:
Different land managing agencies establish their fire restrictions for their lands in different ways. Some use national forest or ranger district boundaries, county lines or their agency-based administrative areas. Use the maps found throughout this website to clarify where you might be restricted from using fires. Start here to find county or national forest boundaries.
NATIONAL FORESTS and GRASSLANDS
Lincoln National Forest entered Stage II restrictions May 14th but received enough rain in late May to rescind restrictions as of June 1st. Click here for details.
Also entering restrictions May 14th was Gila National Forest but Memorial Day weekend brought them lot of rain and those restrictions were lifted May 26th. Click here for details.
As of March 9th restrictions were posted for the CIBOLA NATIONAL FOREST in their Mountair Ranger District. That District covers the Gallina and Manzano Mountains; the latter were badly burned in several big fires last year.
The Cibola's Kiowa National Grasslands out on the prairie in Northeastern New Mexico eliminated previous restrictions on June 26th.
NATIONAL PARKS AND MONUMENTS
NONE OF THE NATIONAL PARKS AND MONUMENTS IN NEW MEXICO ARE CURRENTLY OBSERVING ANY SEASONAL FIRE RESTRICTIONS.
However, individual National Parks and Monuments maintain differing restrictions on cooking and campfires year round - use the interactive map above to locate individual sites and check the NOTES at the bottom of a site's page for local restrictions.
BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT (BLM)
BLM lands in southern New Mexico managed by the offices in Carlsbad, Roswell and Las Cruces entered restrictions May 15th BUT cancelled them June 1st.
For a map of BLM Field Office boundaries in New Mexico, click here .
U. S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS Reservoirs
NEITHER OF THE ARMY CORPS LAKES IN NEW MEXICO ARE CURRENTLY OBSERVING ANY FIRE RESTRICTIONS.
Corps lakes at Abiquiu and Cochiti usually follow the lead of nearby national foests. Conchas Lake coordinates any restriction it might impose with the Conchas Lake State Park.
VALLES CALDERA NATIONAL PRESERVE
The unique Preserve west of Los Alamos maintains Level One restrictions year-round.
STATE PARKS and STATE LANDS
ONLY TWO OF THE STATE PARKS IN NEW MEXICO ARE CURRENTLY OBSERVING ANY FIRE RESTRICTIONS. MANZANO MOUNTAINS STATE PARK is following the same restrictions posted by the surrounding Mountainair Ranger District lands of Cibola National Forest (see above) while SUMNER LAKE STATE PARK has set Stage Two restrictions (see below): no open wood or charcoal fires anywhere, but campstoves are still ok in designated areas.
STATE TRUST LANDS have lifted Restrictions for most counties in southern and eastern New Mexico. Click here for details.
BERNALILLO COUNTY which surrounds Albuquerque banned smoking and open fires in the bosque (that's "woods" to non-Spanish speakers) along the Rio Grande and in other portions of the county on March 5th. Please observe all local postings and signs.
BUREAU of INDIAN AFFAIRS (BIA)
Although Native American tribal governments cooperate in federal and state fire prevention plans and activities, one should always
remember that tribal lands are NOT public lands; please observe all tribal restrictions on access, photography, etc.
WHAT`S CLOSED:
Local conditions sometimes require land managers to close access or use of areas within their jurisdiction. ALWAYS check with local offices before venturing out on to New Mexico's public lands.
However, there is a closed area caused by the 2008 Big Spring fire on the Cibola National Forest's MOUNTAINAIR RANGER DISTRICT inside Forest Road 55 near the villages of Torreon and Tajique. Click here to view a map of the closed area or call the Ranger Station in Mountainair at 505-847-2990 for more information.
On June 7, the Gila National Forest closed a portion of the CONTINENTAL DIVIDE TRAIL in the vicinity of Sections 22 and 27, T6N, R16W about 14 miles northeast of Reserve, NM and 8 miles southeast of Apache Creek where the 4000 acre Willow Fire is burning.
Since, in the course of managing for resource benefits the Diamond and Meason fires north of Silver City, the Gila has also closed the Upper and Lower Black Canyon Campgrounds.
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SEEING SMOKE IN NEW MEXICO? MAYBE IT'S INTENTIONAL
Many agencies and tribes practice prescribed burning to eliminate excess fuels and reduce fire danger. Weather and environmental conditions play a key role in the timing and accomplishment of these projects. People in these areas will see and smell smoke for the duration of the burn; smoke inversions may occur during nighttime hours. As always, firefighter and public safety are the top priority. For an example of an agency Press Release announcing a prescribed burn project, click here.
Sometimes, naturally caused wildfires are allowed to burn for the same reasons. The objective of any such "managed" fire is to protect, maintain and enhance resources, and, as nearly as possible, allow fire to function in its natural ecological role within defined boundaries.
Before a fire is put into such status, land managers evaluate several criteria. For example, archaeologists and wildlife biologists inspect the area to ensure wildlife habitats and archaeological sites will not be harmed as a result of the fire or management practices. Once a fire is actively managed, meaning boundaries, weather and fuels conditions under which the fire will be allowed to burn are established.
In both cases, agency fire managers follow strict guidelines, monitoring burn conditions and the generation of smoke. If you are concerned about how wildfire smoke can affect your health, click here.
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Fire managers use prescribed fire as a tool to reduce the risk of wildfire.
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Fire Restriction Definitions
Remember, FIREWORKS are ALWAYS illegal on public lands!!
Agency and tribal Fire Restrictions and Closures apply to undeveloped lands as well as to their developed recreation sites. Some agencies do not use levels or stages of restrictions; they either are or are not in restrictions as posted above.
To view official Agency Press Releases and Restriction or Closure Orders in detail, click here.
Stage ONE Restrictions:
Open campfires, charcoal grills and stove fires are prohibited, except in developed camp and picnic grounds where agency-built fire rings or grills are provided - these are usually areas that charge campsite fees. Sometimes, getting a campfire permit from the Ranger in developed campgrounds is also required. Check postings at the campground before starting your fire.
Pressurized liquid or gas stoves, lanterns and heaters usually are allowed. Again, check local postings to be sure.
Smoking is restricted to enclosed buildings, within vehicles equipped with ashtrays and on paved or surfaced roads, within developed recreation sites or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable material.
Open burning, i.e., burning of cropland, fields, rangeland, debris burning, slash piles, or weed burning, is prohibited. At this level of fire restrictions, fire managers may use prescribed fire as a tool to reduce the risk of unwanted wildfire.
Stage TWO Restrictions:
NO OPEN FIRES!!! Which means that "building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire, charcoal, broiler, coal, or wood stove fire is prohibited" anywhere in the restricted jurisdiction- even in developed recreation sites. Public lands users are allowed to use pressurized liquid or gas stoves, lanterns, or space-heating devices - check your gear before heading out to be sure it operates safely.
Smoking is only allowed inside an enclosed vehicle.
NO motor vehicles can be taken off road, except when parking in an area devoid of vegetation within 10 feet of the roadway.
Parking overnight in developed campgrounds and trailheads is usually allowed.
Internal or external combustion engines must have properly installed, maintained, and working spark arrestors.
Explosives (including fireworks) are prohibited.
Operating chainsaws, other equipment powered by an internal
combustion engines, and welding is usually restricted as well.
Stage THREE Restrictions authorize partial closure of affected areas.
Stage FOUR Restrictions call for total closure of affected areas.
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