By KRWG News
Alamogordo – Due to increased fire danger on public lands in Southeastern New Mexico, the decision has been made to enact Stage 2 Fire Restrictions on the Lincoln National Forest. The Stage 2 Fire Restrictions for the Lincoln National Forest begin on Thursday, April 7, 2011, at 8:00 a.m.
"The 2011 Fire Season is coming into focus as temperatures increase and winds continue to dry out the vegetation. Our concerns and priorities are for public and firefighter safety during elevated fire danger" said Chad Stewart, Lincoln National Forest Fire Staff Officer. "With Stage II fire restrictions in place, along with everyone's help, we can reduce the threat of fire here in southern New Mexico."
Stage 2 Fire Restrictions include prohibition of:
A. Building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire or stove fire, including charcoal fires, unless within a Forest Service developed recreational site where fire rings and grills are provided. This use is limited to campgrounds that are open to the public with a campground host present. Please contact the local unit in order to determine campground scheduling.
B. Smoking is limited to an enclosed vehicle or a smoking approved building.
C. Possessing, discharging or using any kind of firework or other pyrotechnic device.
D. Welding, or operating acetylene or other torch with open flame.
E. Operating or using any internal or external combustion engine without a spark arresting device properly installed, maintained, and in effective working order meeting either the Department of Agriculture, Forest Service Standard 5100-1a; or Appropriate Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE recommended practice J335 (b) and J350 (a); 36 C.R.R. 261.52(j).
F. Chainsaw use will not be allowed between the hours of 10:00 a.m through midnight.
People are allowed to use pressurized liquid or gas stoves, lanterns, or space-heating devices provided such devices meet the Underwriters Laboratory (UL) specifications for safety.
As always, fireworks are prohibited on all National Forest System lands.
For specific information on a particular area, please contact your local Lincoln National Forest or any National Forest office. KNOW BEFORE YOU GO. For current fire restriction information on public lands in the southwest, please call 1-877-864-6985.
For additional information on Lincoln National Forest restrictions, please contact the Smokey Bear Ranger District Office at (575) 257-4095; the Sacramento Ranger District Office at (575) 682-2551, and the Guadalupe Ranger District Office at (575) 885-4181, Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
To contact New Mexico State Forestry, please call (505) 476-3336, open Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
To report a fire, call (575) 434-2286 or toll free 1-877-695-1663.
For fire restrictions and other fire information for all recreation sites in New Mexico, log on to http://gacc.nifc.gov/swcc/ or http://www.nmfireinfo.com or http://www.publiclands.org/firenews/NM.php. For more information on the Lincoln National Forest, please visit our website at www.fs.usda.gov/lincoln and follow us on www.twitter.com/lincolnsmokey.