The Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF) will implement a forest-wide closure order at 8:00 a.m. this Friday, June 1, 2018, prohibiting public access to the 1.6 million-acre forest. Fire danger on the SFNF remains very high to extreme due to acute drought conditions. The closure order will remain in effect until the forest receives significant moisture and conditions have improved.
The closure order prohibits all recreational activities on the SFNF. Campgrounds, trails and trailheads, and National Forest System roads will be closed to the general public.
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The SFNF implemented Stage 2 fire restrictions on May 7 which prohibited campfires and other activities. In spite of the Stage 2 restrictions, forest law enforcement and fire prevention personnel have counted more than 120 abandoned campfires across the forest, including at least 84 over the Memorial Day weekend.
“The indices our fire team uses to predict fire danger are at historic levels well before we can expect any significant moisture from the seasonal monsoons,” SFNF Forest Supervisor James Melonas said. “But in addition to extremely dry conditions across most of the forest, we have also seen widespread noncompliance with Stage 2 restrictions. Under current conditions, one abandoned campfire could cause a catastrophic wildfire, and we are not willing to take that chance with the natural and cultural resources under our protection and care.”
—The Santa Fe National Forest
120 abandoned campfires. Good Lord!
what is WRONG with people?
are they actually IDIOTS? !!!
have we just turned into “I’ll do what I want to” like willful two year olds???
I saw on the news today that there are some fires again in California.
don’t know the details of that.
but dear God. after the last few months you would think people could act like they have at least a lick of sense!
Human nature in action, I’m afraid. 🙁
agree…apparently it was just us the older generation who didn’t care – apparently the new younger generation are on-2-it and are caring of the environment and so on…they are forever “preaching this to us” – but looks like they have been attacked by the “forest fairy” that makes them forget to “put out that fire, properly”!!!
Do you have Total Fire Ban days – basically days where no fires can be lit or activities that could produce a flame are allowed? Town or country in fact anywhere in the state doesn’t matter. Stiff penalties apply if caught.
The state is divided up into regions and depending on the weather forecast the ban could be statewide or just in certain areas. Each state deals with their own restrictions- fire risk is low here in Victoria at the moment but because of severe drought can be high in other states
https://www.cfa.vic.gov.au/warnings-restrictions/total-fire-bans-and-ratings
Yes, we have fire bans like that too, depending on conditions. On fact, they will be in effect here in our county starting tomorrow morning.
There is no dearth of morons in this world. Search for one and you will get thousands. What a sad commentary on the intelligence of the picnickers.
Yes, there are no lack of them. Apparently one of our neighbors up there was burning some trash outside yesterday evening. Starting this morning there is a ban against it until we get more moisture, so hopefully a bit of education will help.
I didn’t realise abandoned campfires were such a major cause of forest fires where you are. I don’t think they figure much over here, where simple arson is the usual cause. As Tammy says, why are people such self-centred idiots? The authorities are quite right to close the whole forest.
A new fire up north is now 8,000 acres. They are investigating the cause:
https://www.kob.com/new-mexico-news/fire-in-ute-mountains-forces-evacuations/4931270/
Of course your restriction doesn’t apply to me, right?
Reminds of the guy who threw his cigarette butt out the window of his car because he didn’t want it stinking up his vehicle. Hey, guy, it’s your stink!