Santa Fe National Forest Emergency Stage 1 Fire Restrictions

Courtesy of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service
​
The purpose of this Order is to provide for the public's health and safety and to protect National Forest System lands, resources, and facilities during the current period of high fire danger. An emergency exists due to extreme hot and dry weather conditions, as indicated by current fire danger indices. These factors have created an environment in which ignitions from human-caused activities can occur at a much higher rate than normal. Further, wildfires from such ignitions have the propensity to spread extremely quickly, presenting a significant risk to the public safety and substantial obstacles to firefighters in the implementation of wildfire suppression strategies.

Alert Start Date: May 4th, 2025
Alert End Date: September 30th, 2025
Order Number: 03-10-00-25-05

Associated Documents
​Emergency Stage 1 Fire Restrictions Order

Forest Order

PROHIBITIONS
Pursuant to 16 U.S.C § 551 and 36 C.F.R. § 261.50(a), the following are prohibited on all National Forest System lands (NFS) in the Santa Fe National Forest, Sandoval, Los Alamos, Santa Fe, Rio Arriba, Mora and San Miguel counties, State of New Mexico, described below and depicted on the attached map incorporated into this Order as Exhibit A (the "Described Area"): 

1. Building, maintaining, or using a fire, including charcoal and briquettes outside a fire structure that is provided by the Forest Service within a designated area as defined in Exhibit B. 36 C.F.R. § 261.52(a). 

2. Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site, or while stopped in an area at least three (3) feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable material. 36 C.F.R. § 261.52(d). 

EXEMPTIONS
Pursuant to 36 C.F.R. § 261.50(e), the following persons are exempt from this Order: 

1. Persons using a device solely fueled by liquid petroleum or liquified petroleum gas (LPG) fuels that can be turned on and off. Such devices can only be used in an area that is barren or cleared of all overhead and surrounding flammable materials within 3 feet of the device. 

2. Persons using a stove fire in a designated area as defined in Exhibit B. 
3. Any Federal, State, or Local officer, or member of an organized rescue or firefighting resource in the performance of an official duty. 

4. Persons with Forest Service Permit No. FS-7700-48 (Permit for Use of Roads, Trails, or Areas Restricted by Regulation or Order), specifically exempting them from this Order or a written determination by a Forest Service authorized officer that a permit is not required under 36 C.F.R. § 251.50(e)(1) or (2). 

DESCRIBED AREA
All National Forest System lands, roads and trails within the exterior boundaries of the Santa Fe National Forest as depicted on the attached map at Exhibit A. The prohibitions do not apply to any non-National Forest System lands within the Described Area. 

PURPOSE
The purpose of this Order is to provide for the public's health and safety and to protect National Forest System lands, resources, and facilities during the current period of high fire danger. An emergency exists due to extreme hot and dry weather conditions, as indicated by current fire danger indices. These factors have created an environment in which ignitions from human-caused activities can occur at a much higher rate than normal. Further, wildfires from such ignitions have the propensity to spread extremely quickly, presenting a significant risk to the public safety and substantial obstacles to firefighters in the implementation of wildfire suppression strategies. 

IMPLEMENTATION
1. This order shall be in effect from Sunday May 4, 2025, at 08:00am through September 30, 2025, at midnight, unless rescinded. 

2. A map identifying the Described Area is attached and made part of this Order as Exhibit A. For a digital version of this Order and Exhibit A, go to https://www.fs.usda.gov/r03/santafe/alerts

3. A list of "Definitions" is attached and made a part of this Order as Exhibit B. 

4. Unless otherwise expressly defined in this Order, the terms used in this Order are defined by the regulations of the Secretary of Agriculture, 36 C.F.R. Chapter 11, Parts 200-299. If there are terms in this Order that are not expressly defined in the Order or 36 C.F.R. Chapter II, Parts 200-299, their meaning shall be determined by their plain language definitions. 

5.    A violation of the above prohibitions is punishable as a Class B misdemeanor by a fine of not more than $5,000 for individuals and $10,000 for organizations, or by imprisonment for not more than six months, or both. 16 U.S.C. § 551; 18 U.S.C. §§ 3559, 3571, and 3581.

6.    Contact the Coyote, Cuba, Jemez, Pecos/Las Vegas and Espanola Ranger Districts located in Coyote, N.M., Cuba, N.M., Jemez Springs, N.M., Pecos, N.M. and Espanola, N.M., telephone numbers (575) 638-5526 (Coyote), (575)-289- 3264 (Cuba), (575) 839-3535 (Jemez), (505) 757-6121 and (505) 425-3534 (Pecos/Las Vegas) and (505) 753-7331 (Espanola), and at the Santa Fe National Forest Supervisor's Office (505) 438-5300 for more information about this Order.

7.    This Order supersedes any previous Orders prohibiting the same or similar acts in the same Described Area.

EXHIBIT B - EMERGENCY STAGE 1 FIRE RESTRICTIONS

DEFINITIONS:
DESIGNATED AREA: Developed recreation sites such as campgrounds and picnic areas that are maintained and administered by the Forest Service, shown on the current Forest visitor maps, and are equipped with permanent fire structures. 

FIRE STRUCTURE: A permanent metal or concrete structure, which is specially designed for the purpose of containing a campfire or cooking fire that has been installed and maintained by the Forest Service or equivalent. 

STOVE FIRE: A fire built inside a fully enclosed metal stove, grill, or sheep herder type stove, which is outfitted with a chimney that is at least (5) feet in length and is equipped with a spark arrestor consisting of a mesh screen opening of ¼ inch or less.

For further definitions or clarification of definitions refer to 36 C.F.R. § 261.2. 

Contact Name:
Claudia Brookshire/Public Affairs Officer

Contact Number:
505-438-5320

Contact Email:
[email protected]

Maps

​Click for full-size map showing forest-wide Stage 1 Fire Restrictions