Lincoln National Forest to reopen, with restrictions

Recent precipitation along with higher humidity and increased fuel moisture have lowered the fire danger and allowed Robert Trujillo, Lincoln National Forest Supervisor, to reopen the Smokey Bear and Sacramento Ranger Districts for public access and use effective Thursday, July 21.

“The Guadalupe Ranger District will remain closed to public access and use as part of the Stage III Fire Restriction Closure Order until the District receives sufficient moisture to decrease the fire danger,” he said in announcing the change for the other two districts Friday. The partial closure does not affect federal, state, or county highways that lead into the mountain community of Queen, in southeastern New Mexico. Property owners and their guests will continue to have access to private lands within the Guadalupe Ranger District.

Fire restrictions remaining in place until rescinded include prohibition of:

 

  • Building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire or stove fire, including charcoal fires.
  • Smoking is limited to an enclosed vehicle or a smoking approved building.
  • Welding, or operating acetylene or other torch with open flame.
  • 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 or Appropriate Society of Automotive Engineers.
  • Chainsaw use will not be allowed between the hours of 10 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 specifications for safety on the Smokey Bear and Sacramento Ranger Districts.As always, fireworks are prohibited on all National Forest System lands.

    Forest Service officials reminded visitors that while the fire danger has decreased, it is not completely gone as rain showers have been scattered throughout the Forest. Public safety tops the Forest Service’s priority list.

    “We believe the elevated fire restrictions and partial closure of the Forest reduces the risk of human-caused fires,” Trujillo said.

    For more information about the Fire Closure Order or fire restrictions on the Lincoln National Forest, contact the Supervisor’s Office at 575-434-7200, from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, or call the Smokey Bear Ranger District at 575-257-4095 on Cedar Creek Road off Mechem Drive.

    Visit the Lincoln National Forest website at www.fs.usda.gov/lincoln, for the most current information and follow on Twitter at lincolnsmokey@twitter.com. For more information on current fire restrictions on public lands in the Southwest, call 1-877-864-6985, a toll-free hotline sponsored by natural resource agencies in the Southwest.

    • Vera Cruz Mountain Ranch borders the Lincoln National Forest with remarkable views of the Sierra Blanca Peak and is located just 22 miles north of Ruidoso, New Mexico.