SFNF Asks Visitors to Think about Wildfire Conditions, Recreate Responsibly

By SFNF

The forecast for Mother’s Day weekend – warmer temperatures and mostly clear skies – is likely to bring a large number of visitors to the Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF). If you are planning to camp or hike on the forest, please keep in mind that New Mexico is entering the 2021 wildfire season under severe drought conditions and with near-record fire indices.

“While most visitors to the forest do the right thing and recreate responsibly, careless campers and high fire danger are a bad combination,” Forest Supervisor Debbie Cress said. “With the hotter, drier conditions we are seeing now, it’s even more important that we all remain situationally aware, practice good campfire safety and follow Leave No Trace principles when we’re out enjoying our public lands.”

Heading into this weekend, there are no fire restrictions currently in place on the SFNF. The Gila and Lincoln National Forests further south are both under Stage 1 fire restrictions, which prohibit campfires outside developed campgrounds and limit smoking, to reduce the risk of human-caused wildfire. Fire managers on the SFNF are monitoring local conditions and continuously assessing the need to implement fire restrictions. To check the status of fire restrictions on the SFNF, visit the forest website or New Mexico Fire Informationbefore you leave home.

If you are planning a trip to the national forest this weekend, please follow these guidelines for a safe experience:

• Continue to follow Centers for Disease Control guidelines and New Mexicopublic health orders to prevent the spread of COVID-19
• Dispose of waste properly by “packing it in, packing it out,” which ideally means taking it home with you if trash receptacles on the forest are full.
• Refer to the 2021 Motor Vehicle Use Maps so you know which roads and trails are open to motor vehicle traffic, including ATVs and OHVs. Park only in designated areas. Do not impede emergency access by blocking roadways, fire lanes or driveways.
• Dogs are welcome but must be leashed in developed recreation areas (campgrounds and picnic sites), parking lots and on interpretive trails. Your dog must be under your control at all times.
• Make sure it’s not a Red Flag day before you start a campfire. Build your campfire in an area cleared of vegetation. Never abandon or leave a campfire unattended. Always have plenty of water and a shovel nearby. When it’s time to leave, extinguish your campfire by drowning and stirring until it’s the consistency of a mud pie and cold to the touch.

Stay safe and stay up to date by checking the SFNF website and following the forest on Facebook and Twitter.