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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
SEEING SMOKE IN NEW MEXICO? MAYBE IT'S INTENTIONAL
Fire Restriction Definitions
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 every summer!
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NEW MEXICO RESTRICTIONS AND CLOSURES
May, 2012
NOTE: This page and the PRESS SECTION are intended for recreationists who might be concerned with how government and tribal agencies' Fire Restrictions and Closures, as well as prescribed burning, can affect camping, hiking, hunting, fishing and other outdoor activities. For information about active wildfires, you can also scroll to the bottom of this page and use the links.
PLEASE read the notices below and in the Press Section carefully before you take off for outdoor activities. Opportunities for having fun on public lands abound year round, even during the summer "fire season." Scattered wildfires may temporarily affect travel while being managed or suppressed by fire crews, but there is always some place where you can camp, hike, fish, visit historic sites or take a leisurely drive to enjoy the scenery.
PAY SPECIAL ATTENTION TO THE FIRE RESTRICTIONS LISTED BELOW BEFORE PACKING THE STEAKS AND MARSHMALLOWS FOR YOUR CAMPING TRIP!!
And remember, FIREWORKS are ALWAYS illegal on public lands!!
WHAT`S OPEN:
Most everything! Most public lands around the state are open. Any closures that may occur are located below in the What's Closed section.
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
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.
BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT (BLM)
For a map of BLM District and Field Office boundaries in New Mexico, click here .
U. S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS Reservoirs
STATE PARKS
STATE PARKS
Bottomless Lakes, Brantley Lake, Cerrillos Hills, Clayton Lake, Conchas Lake, El Vado Lake, Heron Lake, Living Desert, Mesilla Valley Bosque, Oasis, Rio Grande Nature Center, Santa Rosa Lake, Storrie Lake, Sugarite Canyon, Sumner Lake, Ute Lake, and Eagle Nest Lake State Parks are all observing fire restrictions.
In State Parks, smoking is prohibited except in enclosed buildings, within vehicles equipped with ashtrays, and on paved or surfaced roads, developed recreation sites, or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable material. Use of fireworks is prohibited within parks without the superintendent’s advance written approval. Campfires are prohibited unless the following exception s are met. An exception is granted where cooking or heating devices use kerosene, white gas, or propane as a fuel in an improved camping area that is cleared of flammable vegetation for at least 30 feet.
These restrictions do NOT apply at Elephant Butte and Caballo Lake State Parks. Campfires are allowed at those parks only within 100 feet of the lake shoreline. Smoking is also prohibited - except in enclosed buildings, within vehicles equipped with ashtrays, and on paved or surfaced roads, developed recreation sites, or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable material.
Cerrillos Hills State Park, Living Desert Zoo and Gardens, Mesilla Valley Bosque State Park, Rio Grande Nature Center State Park, and Vietnam Veterans Memorial State Park DO NOT allow Fires at any time.
STATE TRUST LANDS
As of April 26th, 2012, ALL STATE TRUST LANDS have banned campfires and smoking. For more information, please click here.
COUNTY AND MUNICIPAL JURISDICTIONS
SANTA FE COUNTY has implemented a fire restriction ordinance. For more information, please click here .
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. MANY OF THE CLOSURES BELOW WERE POSTED WITHOUT EXPIRATION DATES - CHECK WITH LOCAL AUTHORITIES TO SEE IF THEY ARE STILL IN PLACE. In fact, ALWAYS check with local offices before venturing out on to New Mexico's public lands.
SANTA FE NATIONAL FOREST remains closed in the areas of the Pacheco fire and the Las Conchas fire due to flooding and other dangers. For More information, contact the Jemez Ranger District.
Bursum Road (NM Hwy 159), in the GILA NATIONAL FOREST is now CLOSED for winter. Use alternate routes FR 141 & FS 28 to reach Snow Lake area. For info on alternate route, call Reserve RD 575-533-6232.
STATE PARKS
MANZANO MOUNTAINS STATE PARK remains closed.
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SEEING SMOKE IN NEW MEXICO? MAYBE IT'S INTENTIONAL
There are two kinds of fires that might cause some smoke:
One is your well-tended and thoroughly-OUT-when-you-leave CAMP FIRE and the other is a WILDLAND FIRE - that's any non-structure fire that occurs in the wildland.
There are also two types of wildland fires. They are wildfires and prescribed fires.
Wildfires are unplanned ignitions or prescribed fires that are declared wildfires. Some wildfires that occur naturally, by lightning, can be managed to achieve resource management objectives.
Prescribed fires are planned ignitions. They are ignited by agency personnel to meet specific objectives in order to prevent or reduce the intensity of any future wildfire.
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. Before a fire can be actively managed, its boundaries and the weather and fuels conditions under which the fire will be allowed to burn are carefully 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!!
NOTE 1:
Agency and tribal Fire Restrictions and Closures apply to undeveloped lands as well as to their developed recreation sites.
NOTE 2:
Some agencies do not use levels or stages of restrictions at all; they either are or are not in restrictions as posted above. When the terms "Stage One" or "Level Two" are used, they usually have the following meanings, but to view official Agency Press Releases and Restriction or Closure Orders in detail, click here for the chapter-and-verse details.
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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