New round of NM burn bans imposed amid drought, wildfire risk
A Mora County Sheriff's Deputy vehicle sits near the Mogote Hill Fire south of Wagon Mound in mid-March. A new round of fire restrictions imposed Monday in some areas of the state aims to prevent wildfires this summer. (Photo Courtesy Mora County Sheriff's Office)
Six New Mexico counties and the Mescalero Apache Reservation imposed new fire restrictions Monday, citing high wildfire risk in various parts of the state.
In total, according to the New Mexico Forestry Division, 23 towns, counties, tribal or other jurisdictions across the state have imposed some level of fire restriction due to high fire risk. The division has a map here showing much of the state under some type of burn ban, including federal and state forests.
'In the face of significant wildfire potential, we need every New Mexican to take active steps to reduce the likelihood of an accidental wildfire start,' State Forester Laura McCarthy said in a statement. 'These restrictions are needed because of current wildfire threats and the rising probability of dangerous wildfires as temperatures warm through May and June.'
Forecasters predicted earlier this month that southeastern New Mexico, including the Gila National Forest, would experience above-normal wildfire risk in May that would grow to cover the eastern two thirds of New Mexico by June. A national drought update issued Tuesday said a warm, dry spring had led to intensification of drought conditions in the Intermountain West region, with the worst conditions in New Mexico and Arizona.
So far this year, 377 wildfires in New Mexico have burned more than 33,500 acres, though the vast majority of those fires burned less than an acre. The biggest wildfire this year, so far, the Mogote Hill Fire, burned a little more than 21,000 acres near Wagon Mound in mid-March.
Of the 377 fires, 275 were human-caused, 26 were naturally caused and causes of the remaining 76 are still being determined, according to the Southwest Coordination Center.
The fire restrictions are in place as most of the state experiences some form of drought. According to the Office of the State Engineer, all but 3.8% of New Mexico is in drought, with 41% in extreme drought and 7.5% in exceptional drought.
Stage I fire restrictions generally prohibit building a fire in an area other than a developed campsite or picnic area, along with smoking outside of a vehicle or building. State II restrictions also prohibit discharging a firearm, operating an internal combustion engine, welding or using explosives.
Nowhere in New Mexico is currently under the most severe fire restriction, in which entire areas are closed to the public to prevent wildfires.
Read more about the county- or town-level fire restrictions on the New Mexico Forestry website.
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