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County, Forests Issue Fire-Use Restrictions

Posted on: Wednesday, 1 March 2006, 06:00 CST

By Staci Matlock, The Santa Fe New Mexican

Mar. 1--Warm, parched weather has prompted fire-safety restrictions at national forests in New Mexico, and officials fear continued dryness could lead to forest closures. The Cibola National Forest on Tuesday banned open campfires, charcoal grills and stove fires outside developed campgrounds and picnic areas with grills as part of Stage I restrictions. The restrictions allow liquid or gas stoves, lanterns and heaters that meet safety standards. Smoking must be done in vehicles, buildings or developed recreation sites. In the 15 years Mark Chavez has been with the forest, this is the earliest he's known the forest to impose fire restrictions in Cibola. The Santa Fe County Commission also passed earlier-than-normal restrictions Tuesday on fireworks and open fires on private land and on smoking in county open space or wildland areas. County Fire Captain Buster Paddy said the department has been fighting about two grass fires per day in the region, not counting responses to fires in other jurisdictions. At the time commissioners considered the resolution Tuesday afternoon, crews were mopping up a fire near Edgewood, he said. The Lincoln National Forest banned open campfires and stoves in January, months earlier than usual. "Normally, we look at doing this Memorial Day weekend (in May)," said Joe Garcia, Lincoln National Forest spokesman. Carson and Santa Fe forest officials will meet next week to decide on starting Stage I restrictions, which are the least restrictive, spokeswoman Dorotea Martinez said. "We've been looking at this seriously for a few weeks," she said. "We're in very extreme fire conditions now below 8,000 feet elevation." Moisture in the last two years increased grass growth in forests and at lower elevations. Officials worry the grass will fuel fast-moving fires. New Mexico has five national forests and one grassland encompassing 22.3 million acres of public lands popular with hikers, campers, horseback riders, hunters and anglers. In 2002, most of the forests were closed because of fire conditions. For the last three years, the Carson and Santa Fe forests went to more restrictive Stage II restrictions, but July monsoons saved them from closing. If National Weather Service predictions of no moisture until late-summer monsoons hold, the Lincoln and other forests will have to consider closing the forests, Garcia said. Economically, such closures hurt small rural towns and businesses dependent on outdoor recreation, Garcia said. Forest visitors aren't the only ones officials are urging to be careful with fire. Officials urge residents, especially those in forested areas, to not dump stove ashes without mixing them thoroughly with water and making sure they are completely cold. A small fire a few weeks ago near Red River started after a resident dumped ashes over her porch railing into her yard, Carson National Forest officials say. For updated information on forest closures and outlooks, go to www.fs.fed.us/r3/ and click on Fire Restrictions and Closures. Reporter Julie Ann Grimm contributed to this report. Contact Staci Matlock at 470-9843 or smatlock@sfnewmexican.com.

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Copyright (c) 2006, The Santa Fe New Mexican

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Source: The Santa Fe New Mexican

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