Archive for June 10, 2013
Bernalillo County to Close East Mountain Open Space Areas Due to High Fire Danger
by Larry Gallegos, Bernalillo County Public Information Department
Bernalillo County- All of Bernalillo County’s East Mountain open space properties will be closed due to the high fire danger in those areas starting Monday, June 10, at 8 a.m.
Carlito Springs, Ojito de San Antonio, Sandia Knolls, Sedillo Ridge and Sabino Canyon Open Space Properties will be closed until further notice.
“The importance of the closure of the county open spaces in the East Mountains is that it reduces the likelihood of a human-caused fire,” says Bernalillo County Fire Marshal Chris Gober. “It also keeps residents from being trapped on the mountain in case a fire does start.”
Because of the countywide drought conditions, the Bernalillo County Fire Department will go before the Board of County Commissioners next Tuesday, June 11, to ask for a resolution to impose restrictions on fireworks outside the city limits in the unincorporated areas of Bernalillo County.
Those restrictions would ban the sale and use of missile-type rockets, helicopters, aerial spinners, stick-type rockets and ground audible devices. The restrictions would limit the use of ground and hand-held sparkling and smoke devices to areas that are paved or barren or that have a readily accessible source of water for use by the homeowner or general public. There would also be a ban on the use of all fireworks in the bosque and other wildland areas of unincorporated Bernalillo County.
Residents are reminded that open burning restrictions have been in place countywide since May 14.
EMIFPA Fire Info – June 10: forest closure
Editor’s note: EMIFPA is the East Mountain Interagency Fire Protection Association. For more information, visit the organization’s web site or follow them on Facebook or Twitter (@EMIFPA_NM).
by John Helmich, EMIFPA Community Education Outreach Coordinator
EM Residents,
Reminder: the Sandia and Mountainair Districts of the Cibola National Forest are closed as of 8 am today, Monday June 10. More information regarding these closures is available here.
The Fire Danger Indices rating was raised from “very high” to “extreme” today. This means: “Fires start quickly, spread furiously, and burn intensely. All fires are potentially serious. Development into high intensity burning will usually be faster and occur from smaller fires than in the very high fire danger class. Every fire start has the potential to become large. Expect extreme, erractic behavior. NO OUTDOOR BURNING SHOULD TAKE PLACE IN AREAS WITH EXTREME FIRE BEHAVIOR. Fire restrictions are generally in effect.”
Excellent information concerning heat stroke issues and concerns can be sent to you from Ken Oswald, Plateau Telecom. His email contact is keno@plateautel.com. Request the “Safety Alert – Heat Wave.”