Fire Managers on the Carson National Forest Reassess Restrictions after Increased Precipitation

Taos, NM – May 20, 2021 – Recent rain showers and snowfall in the higher elevations of the Carson National Forest have caused fire managers to reconsider the fire restrictions that were planned for next week. The “Stage-1” fire restrictions were set to take effect on Monday, May 24 to reduce the risk of human-caused wildfire due to extreme drought conditions and historically low fuel moisture levels. The decision to cancel the restrictions came on Thursday, in response to heightened fuel moisture levels and precipitation throughout northern New Mexico.

Forest managers use several criteria to determine when to implement restrictions, including current and predicted weather, fuel moisture, fire activity levels and available firefighting resources. Officials at the Carson National Forest will assess the need for future fire restrictions based on changing conditions and continue to ask the public to recreate responsibly.

“We’re grateful for all of the rain and snow that we’ve been getting recently in northern New Mexico, and we invite visitors to enjoy the beauty of the forest,” Forest Supervisor James Duran said. “But we ask people to please recreate responsibly, make sure your campfires are completely out, and practice Leave no Trace principles.”

Several of the national forests in New Mexico are already in fire restrictions, including the Lincoln and Gila national forests. Parts of the Santa Fe National Forest are still scheduled to go into “Stage 1” fire restrictions on Monday, May 24. If you are planning to visit the national forest, please be aware of any fire restrictions that may be in effect for the area you plan to visit. For the latest information on fire restrictions, you can view the new mapping tool or check the NM Fire Info or Carson National Forest website. As always, don’t forget to follow the Carson National Forest on Facebook and Twitter.