Copyright 2006 Albuquerque Journal
By JOHN ARNOLD
Albuquerque Journal (New Mexico)
Despite record heat and bone-dry conditions, the Santa Fe National Forest is holding off on a closing parts of the forest because the public has been vigilant in preventing fires, forest managers said Monday.
A media advisory issued Monday morning stated that the forest was planning to go into Stage III fire restrictions - which include partial forest closures - by the end of the week.
Later in the day, however, the forest issued another news release saying that it would not impose any closures this week after all.
“Lessons learned have shown us how closures can impact local economies and at this time the public’s adherence to current restrictions, predicted moisture and the availability of fire fighting resources will allow the forest to remain in Stage II fire restrictions,” forest supervisor Gilbert Zepeda said in a written statement.
Fire managers will continue to monitor conditions on a daily basis to determine whether partial closures are necessary, the statement said.
Forest closures are a touchy issue for the Forest Service, which took some heat in 2002 when it closed the entire Santa Fe National Forest.
Outfitters and other businesses that rely on forest recreation were hit hard, prompting the forest to develop criteria and stages for imposing restrictions.
The Santa Fe National Forest last implemented partial closures in 2004.
Much of the forest is currently under Stage II restrictions, which ban all use of campfires, including those in developed camp grounds. Chain-saw use is also prohibited.
In its statement Monday, the forest service said that since the beginning of the year, eight human-caused fires have burned 18 acres in the Santa Fe National Forest. Other fires were caused by lightning strikes.
“Considering how hot, dry and windy the spring has been, these are unusually promising statistics,” said fire prevention specialist Claudia Standish.
The forest’s announcement Monday came shortly before two air tankers and a helicopter were dispatched to a small fire burning in the Cuba Ranger District, about 13 miles southeast of Cuba.
Forest spokesman Lawrence Lujan did not know what caused the Chaparral Fire, which had burned about five acres by Monday evening.
Officials in both the Santa Fe and Carson national forests meet weekly to discuss potential fire restrictions. A spokeswoman with the Carson National Forest said Monday that managers there had also decided to stick with Stage 2 restrictions for now.
“That, of course can change from week to week,” fire information officer Dorotea Martinez said. “If we do not get any moisture, I would say in the next couple of weeks, then I’m almost certain we will go into Stage III.”