SFNF Thanks Forest Visitors for a Safe Holiday Weekend

By SFNF

The recent Fourth of July holiday weekend was a relatively quiet one on the Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF), with only one abandoned campfire reported and good outdoor etiquette all around.

Perhaps it was the weather – scattered showers and thunderstorms – but popular camping areas were not packed with people, and patrols found very few issues compared to past years.

“Safety is always our first priority, and we want to thank all of our visitors who made sure that this Fourth of July was celebrated safely on the national forest,” Forest Supervisor Debbie Cress said.

The Pecos/Las Vegas Ranger District lifted the Rincon Fire closure order on Friday, reopening the eastern side of the Pecos Wilderness to backcountry hiking and horseback riding before the holiday. But visitors are reminded that the Medio Fire closure order, including the popular Rio en Medio Trail #163, is still in place.

The 2020 Medio Fire burned approximately 4,000 acres about 14 miles north of Santa Fe. An immediate assessment after the fire indicated that approximately 30% of the fire area had high potential for post-fire runoff. Forest managers are monitoring the effects of recent monsoonal precipitation on the area to determine if additional mitigation measures are needed before reopening the area to the public.

SFNF fire personnel responded to several smoke reports over the weekend, most of which were lightning strikes to single trees that were quickly suppressed.

Even though it appears the monsoon season has arrived, the SFNF asks visitors to continue to consider the risk of wildfire. The US Drought Monitor still shows drought conditions throughout much of New Mexico. More than 80% of wildfires are human caused. If you decide to have 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.

If you plan to visit the national forest this summer, please recreate responsibly, plan ahead, know before you go, and follow Leave No Trace principles.