New Mexico forests gear up for windy Memorial Day Weekend
NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – Thousands of people are gearing up to get outdoors this Memorial Day Weekend and despite fire season concerns, many won’t face major fire restrictions in some of New Mexico’s most popular areas.
KRQE News 13’s meteorologists are forecasting strong winds Saturday and Sunday with dry air raising fire concerns. “Campfires are a wonderful camping experience, but we also want to make sure if you’re camping and if you have a campfire, that you always make sure that it out and be mindful of weather conditions,” said Public Information Officer for the Santa Fe National Forest, Claudia Brookshire.
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Santa Fe National Forest said they’re expecting full campgrounds and most of their sites are already reserved. Lincoln National Forest said their spots are also almost gone. “Our campsites are all first come first serve and I know they are filling up very quickly. If you want to snag a spot, I suggest you head on down,” said Public Affairs Officer for Lincoln National Forest, Amanda Fry.
While the national forests are open to the public, some areas are off-limits. “We do still have a closure order in place within the Pecos Las Vegas ranger district because of post-Hermits Peak Calf Canyon conditions,” said Brookshire.
Lincoln and Santa Fe National Forests currently don’t have any added restrictions when it comes to campfires, but they’re warning campers to never leave a fire until its cool to the touch.
“Make sure that you have brought enough water and have access to enough water to drown that campfire,” said Fry.
New Mexico state parks are also warning visitors about dry, windy conditions this weekend with various restrictions across many parks. Cibola National Forest also told KRQE News 13 that they do not have any fire restrictions in place.
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