Contact: Dan Ware, Public Relations Coordinator
505-476-3336/daniel.ware@state.nm.us
Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department Secretary and the State Forester Announce Fire Restrictions for Many NM Counties
Santa Fe – New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Secretary-Designate John Bemis and State Forester Tony Delfin today announced restrictions on fireworks, smoking, campfire and open-fires for 29 counties. The restrictions will go into effect at 8:00 a.m., Saturday, April 16, 2011.
The restrictions are being imposed due to prolonged low levels of precipitation, high winds and low humidity across much of New Mexico, which has caused high to extreme fire danger.
“Some areas of New Mexico have not seen appreciable moisture in as many 150 days and as we progress into spring, the risk to communities from wildfire is increasing significantly,” said Bemis. “I’m urging all residents in the areas affected to follow the restriction guidelines to protect lives and property in their communities.”
The restrictions will be imposed on all non-municipal, non-federal and non-tribal lands in Bernalillo, Catron, Chaves, Cibola, Curry, DeBaca, Dona Ana, Eddy, Grant, Guadalupe, Harding, Hidalgo, Lea, Lincoln, Luna, Mora, McKinley, Otero, Quay, Roosevelt, Sandoval, Santa Fe, San Miguel, Sierra, Socorro, Torrance, Valencia, and Union counties. The State Forester has also placed the following restrictions on non-municipal and non-federal lands in the following county for that portion of the county east of Interstate 25: Colfax. The restrictions in all counties listed will remain in effect until rescinded.
The restrictions include:
· Smoking: Allowed only in enclosed buildings, developed recreation areas, within structures, vehicles equipped with ashtrays on paved or surfaced roads and in areas at least three feet in diameter that are barren or cleared of all flammable material.
· Fireworks: Prohibited in all state and private wildlands outside city or federal jurisdictions. Wildland areas include lands covered wholly or in part by timber, brush, grass, grain or other flammable vegetation. Exceptions are allowed for fire department approved public exhibits.
· Campfires: Banned in all open areas including New Mexico State Parks unless the following exceptions are met. An exception is granted to the above where cooking or heating devices use kerosene, white gas or propane as a fuel in an improved camping area that is cleared of all flammable vegetation for at least 30 feet or has a water source. (For information, contact park managers or visit www.nmparks.com). The State Forester is also allowing exceptions for charcoal grills and wood and coal stoves within yards associated with a residence or on the premises of a business.
· Open Burning: Open fires are restricted. This includes the burning of cropland, fields, rangeland, debris burning, slash piles, prescribed burning or weed burning. There is an exception for open burning on croplands that are irrigated. Persons conducting burns must notify the local fire department, monitor the burn at all times, secure the burn at the end of the day, and follow state air quality rules and local ordinances.
Flaring of gas is prohibited.
The State Forester grants an exception to open burning when the following conditions are met:
· At least one adult is on site with communications equipment adequate to reach county dispatch and the local fire department in the event of a fire. The individual should also be equipped with a shovel and a water backpack pump or other equipment to deliver water to suppress a fire.
· The local fire department and county dispatch are notified at least 24 hours in advance of anticipated releases that will result in flaring. If flaring is done by an automated system then the schedule of flaring shall be provided to the local fire department and county dispatch.
· Unless the flaring is needed for safety purposes, flaring pursuant to this exception shall not be done on days that are “red flag days” as determined by the National Weather Service or on days when the sustained wind is in excess of 25 miles per hour in the area.
Exemptions
The State Forester may allow exemptions from the above upon receiving a written request and granting subsequent approval in writing. You may apply for an exemption on the Forestry Division website at www.nmforestry.com.
An exemption does not relieve a person from any civil or criminal liability associated with an uncontrolled fire, including costs associated with wildland fire suppression.
For specific details and the legal restriction notification, log onto www.nmforestry.com. For more information, please call (505) 476-3325.
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The Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department provides resource protection
and renewable energy resource development services to the public and other state agencies.
Forestry Division 1220 South St. Francis Drive ▪ Santa Fe, New Mexico 87505 Phone (505) 476-3325 ▪ Fax (505) 476-3330 ▪ www.emnrd.state.nm.us/FD | |
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