Wildfire Preparedness Is Year-Round: Thank You First Responders!

Each year wildland firefighters rise to the challenge of protecting life, property, and natural and cultural resources. With Labor Day around the corner, we show appreciation and recognize the hard work and dedication of every wildland first responder, including the many volunteer fire departments around the state. Thank you also to the families and friends of wildland fire responders who make it possible for these individuals to be away for weeks at a time. With these brave individuals in mind, our theme for the month of September is “Thank You First Responders!”

Between Jan. 1, 2023 and today, Aug. 31, 2023, firefighters have responded to 619 human-caused/unknown and 342 natural ignitions so far. Only a handful of these ignitions have generated ongoing wildfire incidents in the state of New Mexico. This lower incidence of wildfire is the result of the hard work of our first responders, interagency cooperation, fire prevention activities, and effective fire response. Still, the 2023 wildfire season is not over yet.

As we prepare to enjoy Labor Day festivities, we encourage New Mexicans to recreate responsibly so that we can avoid additional human-caused wildfire ignitions as conditions dry out into Fall. As the number of new fire starts goes down, firefighters will get a chance to rest and recuperate to be ready for the next call.

Here are some ways that you can recreate responsibly this Labor Day weekend and help our first responders:

• Is your vehicle and trailer road-ready? Conduct a pre-trip inspection and ensure all necessary maintenance has been completed.
  • Check tire lugnuts to ensure proper torque or tires can come off.
  • Grease trailer wheel bearings or they may overheat.
  • Improperly inflated tires or those in degraded condition may fail, causing the rim to drag and spark.
  • Don’t overload your trailer’s weight ratings, axles can bend and cause tire failure or the axle itself to fail.
  • Ensure trailer chains are not dragging on the ground.
  • Brakes worn too thin may cause metal to metal contact, which can cause a spark. Trailer brakes can also seize up and overheat.

• Never park or drive over dry grass or brush.
• Utility Vehicles (UTVs) and All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) can start wildfires. Be sure to clean out any vegetation accumulated underneath and conduct regular maintenance. Also carry a fire extinguisher.
• In your vehicle, carry a fire extinguisher (ABC 10 lb. or larger), a shovel and extra water. These tools can make the difference by stopping a fire before it becomes a wildfire.
• Extinguish all smoking materials and dispose of ashes and butts in trash receptacles for that purpose.
• If a fire starts, report it to 9-1-1 immediately

The Forest Stewards Guild and FACNM are working with the Santa Fe, Cibola and Carson National Forests, New Mexico Forestry Division, New Mexico Coalition of Conservation Districts, National Park Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and Bureau of Land Management New Mexico to continue our wildfire preparedness calendar in 2023 and share the message across multiple platforms, including social media, webinars and community events. Bookmark the wildfire preparedness webpage to follow the campaign throughout the year.