NNSA News:

As a result of the region’s high fire potential, the National Nuclear Security Administration’s Los Alamos Site Office (LASO) has imposed fire prevention restrictions on the government-leased Sportsmen’s Club property in Los Alamos to match those for the Forest Service, Park Service, and the Los Alamos National Laboratory property.

“We are very concerned about the severe drought and weather conditions that are affecting the southwest,” LASO Manager Kevin Smith said. “We just can’t afford to take a chance right now on causing a fire that could rapidly spread to other areas.”

In a letter to the Sportmen’s Club today, LASO noted that the decision came following a Rendija Canyon site visit to the club and with fire experts from Los Alamos National Security, LLC.

The restrictions apply to the area outside the club building and are effective immediately.

The restrictions include:

• Smoking is prohibited in all areas, including within vehicles in these areas.
• No discharging a firearm or air rifle or gas guns.
• No operation of any equipment powered by an internal combustion engine off of any paved or hardened surface.
• No off road operation or use of any internal or external combustion engine without a spark arresting device properly installed, maintained and in effective working order.
• No welding or operating acetylene or other torch with open flame outside of a building.
• Driving off established roadways is restricted to roads improved by pavement, gravel or base course. A two-wheel rut path, fire road or fire break is not considered an established roadway.
• Following any operation that is performed in the area, the person(s) conducting the activity shall be responsible for ensuring that the activity has not caused a fire or hot spot(s). A check of the work areas(s) must be conducted at least 30 minutes following cessation of operations in these areas.

Further restrictions could be enacted due to the continued and expanding risk of wildfire to the region.

Restrictions will stay in place until conditions improve.

“I, like most everybody, am hoping for an early start to the rainy season,” Smith said. “We will certainly lift these restrictions as soon as conditions warrant, but right now this is the prudent thing to do.”