NEWS
Commission approves burn ban across Bernalillo County
Ban applies to unincorporated parts of county
Published
Modified
County commissioners on Wednesday night took the burn out of Bernalillo County.
The board voted 4-0 to ban open burning in unincorporated areas of the county, outside city limits, for the next 90 days. Board Chair Adriann Barboa was not present for the vote.
The resolution bans all campfires and vegetation fires, allowing smoking only inside enclosed buildings or vehicles with ashtrays. It also authorizes Bernalillo County Fire Rescue Chief Zach Lardy to suspend the ban if wet weather reduces fire risks.
鈥淚 just want to say I hope this ban is short-lived, as somebody that enjoys the outdoors, camping, hiking 鈥� all those kinds of things,鈥� Commissioner Eric Olivas said prior to the vote. 鈥淚 can鈥檛 look my constituents in the East Mountains in the face and be taken seriously without recognizing the very real, incredible risk 鈥� particularly in that region.鈥�
The vote came after back-to-back visits by Lardy to the commission chambers. During a May 12 meeting, Lardy expressed the possible need for a burn ban but held off on asking for one at that time.
On Wednesday, Lardy said that, despite a few days of rain, the time had come for a ban.
鈥淲e have had a couple of rain events, they just haven鈥檛 resolved the ongoing, and what is defined as, severe drought,鈥� he said.
Making matters worse, Lardy said, the state鈥檚 snowpack is already gone 鈥� weeks earlier than normal 鈥� and they had seen fire activity increase, especially in the South Valley and around the Rio Grande bosque.
Lardy said crews responded to 53 wildfires in March and April, with additional small fires sparking in the bosque in recent weeks. A large blaze at a recycling plant Saturday sent black plumes of smoke into the air for hours as crews fought the fire into the twilight hours.
In the right conditions, Lardy said, 鈥渁ll you need is a spark.鈥�
鈥淥ur goal is to eliminate the risk of the spark,鈥� he said.
As for enforcement, Lardy said the department has crews that patrol and 鈥渞equest compliance鈥� from anyone violating the ban. If a person doesn鈥檛 comply, the incident will be escalated to law enforcement.
