NEWS
New Mexico Forestry Division announces statewide fire restrictions during 'high-risk period'
Bans smoking, fireworks, campfires, open burning and gas fires on non-municipal, non-federal, non-tribal lands
The New Mexico State Forestry Division on Monday enacted a series of restrictions intended to reduce the odds of human-caused fires during a persistently dry, warm spring wildfire season.
The ban prohibits smoking, fireworks, campfires and other types of outdoor burning, as well as gas flaring from oil and gas production on non-municipal, non-federal and non-tribal lands in New Mexico, where average snowpack is an estimated 17% of normal this year.
鈥淲e鈥檙e already in a particularly high-risk period for above average fire potential, which is not expected to let up anytime soon,鈥� State Forester Laura McCarthy said in a statement. 鈥淥ur current conditions are highly conducive to fires starting and spreading quickly. These restrictions are necessary to reduce that risk for the duration of this particularly hot, dry wildfire season.鈥�
While the state鈥檚 spring wildfire outlook remains high risk 鈥� characterized by 鈥渓ow humidity, high winds and abundant dry fuels,鈥� according to the Forestry Division 鈥� the National Weather Service
The NWS also forecasts a chance of rain in several parts of the state on Tuesday, including Las Cruces, sa国际传媒官网网页入口, Santa Fe and Taos.
The Forestry Division is part of the New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department and manages fire suppression on 43 million acres, where landowners can apply for
The Forestry Division itself has limited capacity to enforce the restrictions, but the order empowers counties to prosecute potential violators, according to the division, which also prohibited smoking and gas flaring during high-risk periods under former Gov. Susana Martinez鈥檚 administration.
鈥淔ire restrictions are about individual actions that protect our communities as a whole,鈥� EMNRD acting Secretary Erin Taylor said. 鈥淣ine out of 10 wildfires in the state are caused by humans, which means 9 out of 10 wildfires can be prevented. We鈥檙e asking that every resident and every visitor take extra precautions during a particularly risky wildfire season.鈥�
John Miller is the sa国际传媒官网网页入口鈥檚 northern New Mexico correspondent. He can be reached at jmiller@abqjournal.com.
