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Use this interactive map to search for recreation sites. |
New Mexico Fire News
NEW MEXICO RESTRICTIONS AND CLOSURES
LATEST FIRE NEWS
SEEING SMOKE? 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 May 12th, 2008
Opportunities for outdoor fun on public lands abound year round - even during the spring and summer "fire season." There is always some place where you can camp, hike, fish, visit historic sites or take a leisurely drive to enjoy the scenery. BUT - spring winds frequently make for dangerous conditions as fires this spring in the Manzano Mountains, the Rio Grande Bosque and Lincoln National Forest have shown.
[To monitor active fires, click here.]
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. “Red Flags” are raised by many land management agencies when the National Weather Service identifies a combination of dry fuels and critical weather conditions that could create extreme fire behavior within the next 24 hours.
When “Fire Weather Watches” are issued, they tell agencies that there is a high potential for Red Flag conditions developing in the coming 12-72 hours. To look for updated watches and warnings that might seriously affect your enjoyment of public lands – be they Red Flags or winter weather advisories - click here and check the map at the National Weather Service’s website.
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:
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:
Scroll down this page to see general Fire Restrictions definitions.
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
The Cibola National Forest's Mountainair Ranger District and Sandia Ranger District went into heightened restrictions April 28th, increasing those posted April 14th for the Manzanos. These restrictions ban use of coal, charcoal and wood fires throughout the mountain chain east of Albuquerque. The Districts are open, with the exception of the closed fire rehab area in the Manzanos outlined below. To read the official news release, click here.
The Lincoln National Forest imposed Stage II restrictions on their entire forest in Southeastern New Mexico on March 31st. This forest has CLOSED as of May 1st (see below). To read the official news release, click here.
The Kiowa and Rita Blanca National Grasslands located in the northeast part of New Mexico between the state line and the Canadian River Canyon entered Stage II fire restrictions February 28th. To read the official news release, click here.
NATIONAL PARKS AND MONUMENTS
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.
Fire danger is high at both Carlsbad Caverns and adjoining Guadalupe Mountains National Parks in Texas. Open fires are prohibited at all times within both parks; additional restrictions went into effect February 29th that prohibit smoking on park trails and use of charcoal fires and grills at Carlsbad NP’s Rattlesnake Springs unit. Camp stove use was added to the prohibitions on April 17th.
In Guadalupe Mountains National Park's developed and backcountry campsites camp stove restrictions were also elevated April 17th - currently stoves may be used only near the center of designated camp pads that are cleared of combustible material (leaves, twigs, personal items, etc.) for at least 2 feet away from the stove and where there is no overhanging vegetation. Stoves must be attended the entire time they are in use.
Please note: both parks have stated "Visitors may be held personally liable for resource or property damage and fire suppression as a result of fire from the use of an ignition source" so be extra careful out there. To read the official news release, click here.
BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT (BLM)
For a map of BLM Field Office boundaries in New Mexico, click here.
The Las Cruces District Field Office declared Stage I restrictions for the federal lands it manages in Otero, Luna, Dona Ana, Sierra, Grant, and Hildago counties on April 7th. Building a fire, campfire, using charcoal, coal, or a wood stove is still allowed in established campfire rings and grills within the Aguirre Springs Campground, La Cueva Picnic Area and Three Rivers Petroglyph and Picnic Area. To read the official news release, click here.
The Pecos District in Southeastern New Mexico operated by BLM out of Roswell entered Stage I restrictions on April 28th. The BLM's Fort Stanton area lands CLOSED along with the neighboring Lincoln National Forest May 1st. To read the official news release and restriction/closure orders, click here and for a map of the restricted area, click here.
U. S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS Reservoirs - so far, so good
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
On April 11th, Stage II restrictions went into effect for all non-municipal, non-federal and non-tribal public AND private lands in Chaves, Curry, DeBaca, Eddy, Guadalupe, Harding, Lea, Lincoln, Otero, Quay, Roosevelt, Torrance and Union counties, as well as those portions of Colfax, Mora, San Miguel, Santa Fe, Sandoval, Bernalillo, Valencia, Sierra, Socorro, and Dona Ana counties that are east of Interstate 25. To read the official news release, click here.
BUREAU of INDIAN AFFAIRS (BIA)
The Navajo Reservation in Arizona and New Mexico entered restrictions on May 1st. They are allowing recreational campfires ONLY in developed recreation areas.
Stage I restrictions went into effect April 24th for the Pueblos of Acoma, Cochiti, Isleta, Jemez, Sandia, San Felipe, Santa Ana, Santo Domingo, and Zia. To read the official news release, click here.
The Mescalero Apache Reservation is also observing restrictions on open fires; mostly these restriction apply to residents of the reservation, but if you intend to visit the Mescalero Reservation, call toll free 888-324-0348 for details.
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.
THE ENTIRE LINCOLN NATIONAL FOREST CLOSED MAY 1st. Only the Silver, Saddle, Apache, Sleepy Grass, Deerhead, and Pines concessionaire-managed campgrounds in the Sacramento Ranger District and the Aspen Group, Black Bear Group, Slide Group and Fir Group sites, along with the Sunspot Astronomy and Visitor’s Center, Sunspot, NM, will remain open. Campers who use these campgrounds cannot access Lincoln Forest lands from them for hiking, biking and other recreation purposes and may only use petroleum-fueled stoves for cooking, along with gas lanterns or heating devices.
The following areas are closed: Trestle Recreation Area, Karr Canyon Picnic Site, Sleepy Grass Picnic Site, Upper Karr Campground, all vistas, trailheads, day use picnic areas, cabins and dispersed sites on the Forest.
For complete details, read the latest Press Release by clicking here.
The BLM's Fort Stanton area lands CLOSED along with the neighboring Lincoln National Forest May 1st. To see the official closure map, click here.
Starting April 22nd and extending at least through May 5th, certain areas at Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge have been closed to public recreation due to extreme fire danger. Bosque areas along the Rio Grande identified as units A, B, C, and D will be closed. Units A and B are popular with bird and wildlife watchers and waterfowl hunters, while Unit D is home to an outdoor classroom. To read the official news release, click here.
This month's Trigo Fire in the central and northern sections of the Manzano Mountains of the Cibola National Forest's Mountainair Ranger District caused considerable damage to the landscape and to recreational opportunities. Officials are still assessing the damage to determine what resources will have to be closed.
Lands burned in last fall`s Ojo Peak fire in the southern section of the Manzanos are being rehabilitated this year. The roads and trails south of the Red Canyon Campground will be closed until the rehab work is completed, maybe even until the end of 2008. These include Forest Road #422 from Red Canyon Campground south to Pine Shadow Trailhead, Forest Road #275 from the forest boundary to its junction with FR 422, Forest Road #522 from FR 275 to Forest Road #253 and the following Trails and Trailheads: Pine Shadow, Cottonwood Trail, Kayser Mill and Ox Canyon. For a map of this closure area click here; or you can call the Ranger Station in Mountainair at 505-847-2950.
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SEEING SMOKE? MAYBE IT'S INTENTIONAL
Many agencies and tribes practice prescribed burning to eliminate excess fuels and reduce fire danger. Fire managers conduct prescribed burns following strict guidelines, monitoring burn conditions and the generation of smoke. 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.
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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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