Burn bans and fire restrictions, explained.
The Spark: Wildfire Preparedness is Year-Round
Statewide fire restrictions, Stage I restrictions—what does it all mean?
This month's edition of The Spark bulletin delves into different types of fire restrictions and why they're necessary.
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When the weather gets warm, we all want to get outside and build a backyard bonfire, take an off-roading excursion or burn old yard debris. But which of those activities are allowed and where? Let's talk fire restrictions.
Risky business
When fuels have dried out due to continued heat and winds, fire restrictions become preventative measures that remind the public, "It's windy, and there's a ton of dry grass; it's too risky to have a campfire right now."
Restrictions can come from county, state or federal agencies, but they all have the same goal: Prohibiting risky activities and decreasing the chance that a dangerous wildfire starts. We know from previous years: Fire restrictions work—but only when residents take them seriously. Each one of us is capable of accidentally starting a wildfire. So it's on everyone to make small, temporary changes that will have a far-reaching impact.
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Fire restrictions sign posted at a campground. Photo courtesy U.S. Forest Service.
Types of restrictions
Burn bans are temporary regulations typically issued by counties or municipalities in response to dry weather or high winds that prohibit open burning. They're enforceable within the agency's jurisdictional boundaries.
Statewide fire restrictions are longer-term regulations the state forester issues in response to extreme weather or fuel conditions. We're under statewide restrictions right now. Campfires, smoking outdoors, fireworks, debris burning, and oil and gas flaring are banned on non-municipal, non-federal and non-Tribal lands.
Stage I, II and III restrictions are longer-term restrictions federal agencies enact on public lands to prevent human-caused wildfires. Each stage is more restrictive, up to a full forest closure at Stage III.
WHERE DO I CHECK?
Before you light that brush pile or head out camping, check fire restrictions in your area:
- For a statewide overview of all county and federal restrictions, check the Southwest Area Fire Restrictions Dashboard on the Forestry Division's fire restrictions page.
- For municipal restrictions, contact your local fire department or government agency.
- For public lands, check websites (fs.usda.gov, nps.gov and blm.gov) for the area you're interested in, or call/visit the nearest ranger station.
- For Red Flag Warnings and Fire Weather Watches, check weather.gov.
The Spark: Wildfire Preparedness is Year Roundis a joint production of the Forest Stewards Guild,Bureau of Land Management - New Mexico, New Mexico Forest and Watershed Restoration Institute, New Mexico Forestry Division, U.S. Forest Service, and Fire Adapted NM Learning Network. Learn more and read past issues at facnm.org.
