CIBOLA NATIONAL FOREST RE-OPENS

BUT REMAINS UNDER FIRE RESTRICTIONS

 

ALBUQUERQUE, July 15, 2002 – Today Cibola National Forest officials announced that sufficient rain and higher humidity’s has made it possible to open the forest again beginning tomorrow, Tuesday, July 16.  “Recent, yet spotty rains, allow us to open the forest to visitors again,” stated Karen Carter, Public Affairs Officer.  The Sandia, Mountainair, Magdalena and Mt. Taylor Ranger Districts will open at 8:00 am tomorrow.

Rain has been spotty in some areas of the forest but the National Weather Service is predicting monsoon moisture to move in within the next several days.  As a precautionary measure, the Cibola National Forest is maintaining the following fire restrictions on the Sandia, Mountainair, Magdalena and Mt. Taylor Ranger Districts:

 

§         Campfires, charcoal grills, and stove fires are permitted ONLY in Forest Service developed camp and picnic grounds where grills are provided.

§         Petroleum fueled stoves, lanterns or space heating devices are allowed if they meet the Fire Underwriters’ specifications for safety (such as a manufactured stove).

§         Smoking is allowed within an enclosed vehicle or building; a developed recreation site; or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter and free of all flammable material.  Please properly dispose of cigarette butts.

§         Permits for personal use firewood cutting will be available on Tuesday.  Contact the district offices for more information.

 

Cibola Forest Supervisor, Liz Agpaoa said, “We want to thank the public for their cooperation and patience during the two months that the Cibola National Forest was under partial forest closures. We continue to ask for the public’s vigilance, as fire danger remains high.  We’ve had a very high level of compliance with the closure order and because folks acted responsibly, we managed to keep the number of human-caused fires to a minimum.   We will continue to monitor rainfall and other conditions and lift the fire restrictions as soon as practical.

 

The Kiowa and Rita Blanca National Grasslands will remain under Level III fire restrictions.  These restrictions prohibit campfires, charcoal grills, or stove fires.  Also, smoking is not allowed.

 

For more information, contact Karen Carter or Mark Chavez at 505-346-3900 or the following district offices:

§         Sandia Ranger District:  505-281-3304

§         Mountainair Ranger District:  505-847-2990

§         Magdalena Ranger District:  505-854-2281

§         Mt. Taylor Ranger District:  505-287-8833

§         Kiowa and Rita Blanca National Grassland:  505-374-9652

 

 

 

 

ORDER NO. 03-187

 

LEVEL II FIRE RESTRICTIONS

 

CIBOLA NATIONAL FOREST

 

Pursuant to 36 CFR 261.50(a) and 261.50(b), the following acts are prohibited on all National Forest System land within the Cibola National Forest except the Kiowa/Rita Blanca National Grasslands, Lake McClellan National Grasslands, and the Black Kettle National Grasslands.

 

  1. Building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire, campfire, charcoal broiler, coal, or wood stove without a permit, except in Forest Service developed camp and picnic grounds where grills and stoves are provided.  [36 CFR 261.52(a)]

 

  1. Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site, or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable material. [36 CFR 261.52 (d)]

 

  1. Possessing, discharging or using any kind of firework or other pyrotechnic device.  [36 CFR 261.52 (f)]

 

  1. Operating or using an internal combustion engine without a spark arresting device properly installed, maintained, and in effective working order, in accordance with FSM 5110.3, meeting either:

 

    1. Department of Agriculture, United States Forest Service publication, Spark Arrestor Guide, Forest Service Standard 5100-1a; or
    2. Appropriate Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) recommended practice J335 (b) and J350 (a).  [36 CFR 261.52 (j)]

 

Pursuant to 36 CFR 261.50 (e), the following persons are exempt from the prohibitions listed in this order:

 

  1. Any Federal, State, or local officer or member or an organized rescue or firefighting force in the performance of an official duty.
  2. Timber sale operators who are governed by the contract Emergency Fire Precaution Schedule, C7.22.
  3. Persons with a permit specifically authorizing the otherwise prohibited act or omission.
  4. Persons using petroleum fueled stoves, lanterns, or heating device that meet Fire Underwriters’ specifications for safety.

 

This order becomes effective at 08:00 a.m., Tuesday July 16, 2002 and will remain in effect until rescinded.

 

Done at Albuquerque, New Mexico, this   16th    day of      July               2002.

 

 

 

                                                                                                /s/ Liz Agpaoa              

                                                                                    Liz Agpaoa

                                                                                    Forest Supervisor

                                                                                    Cibola National Forest

 

Violations of these prohibitions are punishable by a fine of not more than $5,000 for an individual, or $10,000 for a group/organization, or imprisonment for not more than six months or both.  Title 16 USC 551 Title 18 USC Sections 3559 and 3571.