Smokey Bear. Courtesy/SFNS
SFNF News:
SANTA FE – Despite recent scattered rain showers, the Santa Fe National Forest and Valles Caldera National Preserve will enter Stage 1 fire restrictions at 8 a.m. Tuesday due to extreme/exceptional drought conditions and high fire danger.
The Pecos Wilderness and San Pedro Parks Wilderness areas are exempt from Stage I fire restrictions. Devices solely fueled by liquid petroleum or LPG fuel that can be turned on and off are allowed in areas that are barren or cleared of all overhead and surrounding flammable materials within three feet of the device.
Prohibited during Stage I fire restrictions are the building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire, campfire, charcoal, coal, or wood stove; except in Forest Service developed campgrounds and picnic areas where grills and fire rings are provided:
- Aspen Basin Campground
- Aspen Vista Picnic Area
- Battleship Rock Picnic Area
- Big Tesuque Campground
- Black Canyon Campground
- Clear Creek Campground and Group Campground
- Coyote Canyon Camping Area
- El Porvenir Campground
- Field Tract Campground
- Iron Gate Campground
- Jacks Creek Campground and Group Campground
- Jemez Falls Campground and Day Use Area
- Las Conchas Picnic Area
- Panchuela Campground
- Rio Chama Campground and Group Campground
- Rio de las Vacas Campground
- San Antonio Campground
- Spanish Queen Picnic Area
- Vista Linda Campground
Smoking is prohibited, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site/improved site or while stopped in an area at least 3-feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable materials.
The following acts are always prohibited on National Forest System Lands:
- Possessing, discharging or using any kind of firework, or other pyrotechnic device.
- Using an explosive; an explosive is defined as any chemical compound, mixture, or device, the primary or common purpose of which is to function by explosion.
- Operating or using any internal or external combustion engine without a spark arresting device properly installed, maintained and in effective working order.
Violation of these restrictions are punishable as a Class B misdemeanor, a fine of not more than $5,000 for individuals and $10,000 for organizations, and/or imprisonment for no more than six months.
Forest and Preserve visitors are encouraged to be fire safe and show their commitment to wildfire prevention by going online and taking Smokey’s pledge.
Current fire restriction information can be found online at: www.firerestrictions.us/nm,www.nmfireinfo.com andwww.fs.usda.gov/santafe; or by calling: 505-438-5300, 1-877-864-6985 or 1-877-971-3473.
