May 24th, 2013 at 5:02 pm by Bill Diven under Community Affairs, Wildfires
New Mexico State University is hoping the work of a new faculty member will help them better understand wildfires in the state.
Doug Cram has been named the wildland fire management specialist. He’s in charge of developing programs that looks into all aspects of wildfires.
Cram, a native of Los Alamos, previously served as the wildland fire specialist in Hawaii and studied fire ecology in the Southwest at NMSU.
NMSU is one of only two land-grant universities in the country to create this type of position.
Online from KRQE News 13: Wildfire coverage, official updates and preparedness resources »
May 23rd, 2013 at 12:50 pm by Hawa Konte under Community Affairs, Wildfires
The portions of the Bosque that fall within the city of Rio Rancho’s limits will be closed to the public effective at 8 a.m. on Monday, May 27, 2013, and will remain closed until further notice.
High temperatures, low humidity, and a lack of rainfall have caused tinder-dry vegetation in the Rio Rancho Bosque area. These conditions have created an extremely high fire danger.
The full closure of the Bosque means that all paths, ditch roads near the Bosque, and the forest (trees) are closed to all visitors and users.
For more information»
May 16th, 2013 at 10:25 am by Hawa Konte under Community Affairs, Wildfires
Mt. Taylor District Ranger Matt Reidy announced that they are postponing the start of the personal woodcutting permit season.
“We normally begin selling personal use woodcutting permits in mid-May,” said Reidy. “But due to the continued drought and fire restrictions, we decided to delay the season,” he added.
The Mt. Taylor Ranger District is in Stage I fire restrictions. However, if the drought continues, the district may soon move into Stage II fire restrictions.
“Stage II restrictions bans the use of chainsaws during the day, which would make it difficult for most people to cut wood,” Reidy said.
The woodcutting season will begin when there is enough precipitation to decrease the likelihood of human-caused wildfires. The district will issue a media release and post information on the web to announce the beginning of the season.
For more information, please call the Mt. Taylor Ranger District at 505.287.8833.
The current fire restrictions and information about woodcutting permits»
May 15th, 2013 at 1:16 pm by Bill Diven under Wildfires
The Gila National Forest, scene of last year’s devastating Whitewater-Baldy Fire, is imposing fire restrictions beginning next week.
The Stage One restrictions begin May 21 and will limit campfires to provided grills and pits in designated campgrounds.
Those campgrounds are:
- Kingston Campground
- Juniper Campground
- Piñon Campground
- El Caso Campground
- Big Horn Campground
- Cottonwood Campground
- Pueblo Park Campground
- Grapevine Campground
- Lower Scorpion Campground
- Forks Campground
- Upper Scorpion Campground
- Sapillo Campground
- Upper End Campground
- Mesa Campground
- Lake Roberts Picnic Area
- Apache Creek Campground
- Little Walnut Picnic Areas
- Cherry Creek Campground
- McMillan Campground
- Iron Creek Campground
- Upper Gallinas Campground
- Lower Gallinas Campground
- Catwalk National Recreation Area
For an updated list of fire restrictions around New Mexico, visit the KRQE.com Wildfires page and click on Forestry Restrictions.
Railroad Canyon Campground
May 2nd, 2013 at 4:30 pm by KRQE News 13 Webdesk under Photos, Wildfires
Submitted by Chris in Enchanted Hills, ’i walked into my back yard and saw a huge smoke stack on the sandia’s and took this photo’
Submitted by Paul Diamond in Sandia Mountains, ‘Here’s how the wildfire looked ~2:30 from Rio Rancho.’
Send your photos to Report It »
