Keep Fall Season Wildfire Safety in Mind, Oct. 7, 2019

As the fall season begins, land managers would like to remind the public to practice wildfire safety while enjoying the outdoors. Federal and state wildfire cooperators in New Mexico urge caution for those participating in hunting and other outdoor activities to go prepared to avoid sparking a fire. Just one small spark or heat from an unattended fire, gunfire ricochet, or a vehicle’s exhaust system can ignite dry grass. With that in mind, here are a few suggestions to help not only hunters but to all outdoorsmen and outdoorswomen trying to avoid sparking a wildfire:

• Refrain from building campfires during windy or dry conditions.
• Never leave a campfire unattended, even for a few minutes. Be sure to completely extinguish campfires with soil and water until cool to the touch before leaving.
• Keep a shovel, extra water, and a fire extinguisher in your vehicle, at your camp and when target shooting.
• When cutting firewood, take the time to make sure your chain saw is properly maintained. Sparks may fly and ignite a wildfire if the spark arrestor is not functioning properly or the tip of the bar comes in contact with a rock.
• When shooting or sighting in your gun, place your target in an area free of flammable vegetation and avoid rocky outcroppings that a round may hit, causing hot bullet jacket fragments to fall into dry vegetation.
• Be careful where you drive or park and stay on designated trails. Avoid parking on dry brush or grass; your exhaust system can ignite the vegetation.

Remember: One less spark, one less wildfire. For more details on local regulations and conditions, please contact the nearest land management agency office where you plan to work or play and visit HTTP://nmfireinfo.com and Firerestrictions.us/nm.