Higher than average temperatures and little precipitation could create a bad year for wildfires for most of New Mexico from May through July, according to a fire forecast study released Tuesday by the National Interagency Fire Center.
Fire experts contacted agree that high winds could conspire with hot, dry conditions this year to increase the risk of catastrophic fires.
“The northern third of the state is looking better than the rest for the time being because there’s been some moisture, but could still see higher fire activity than normal,” State Fire Marshal John Standefer said.
Wind and dry conditions have already contributed to two fires in Rio Arriba County this year. A 13-acre brush fire along the Rio Chama in Medanales and Tierra Azul was apparently caused when a resident threw hot fireplace ashes onto vegetation in a backyard, although the exact cause of the blaze is still under investigation, County Fire Marshal Jerome Sanchez said Tuesday.
A Feb. 28 grass fire burned 33 acres of private land and 5 acres of federal Bureau of Land Management land in El Guache after an resident lost control of a ditch-cleaning fire.
But the County has not yet put in place any fire restrictions this year, Sanchez said. Nor are there any state fire restrictions yet this year, State Forestry Department Spokesman Dan Ware said.
“We’re starting to take restrictions into serious consideration for the far eastern plains and southern New Mexico,” Ware said. “Northern New Mexico’s in good shape at the moment.”
Homeowners should take precautions now for the coming fire season, Standefer said.
“If you live where you’re exposed to wildlands, keep vegetation and stacks of firewood at least 30 feet from your home,” Standefer said. “Make sure tree limbs don’t extend over roof. That will greatly improve your odds of surviving a fire.”
Sanchez warned that wood heaters and stoves can be dangerous this time of year.
The County issues only weekend burn permits to make sure volunteer fire departments are well staffed to respond should fires get out of control, Sanchez said. Fire permits can be picked up between Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 to 5 p.m. and on Fridays between 8 a.m. and 12 p.m. and 1 and 4:30 p.m., Sanchez said. Acequia members can get weekday burn permits, however.