Wildfire Wednesdays #55: Recreate Responsibly

Hi FACNM Members,

We are excited to get outside and enjoy the outdoors this Memorial Day weekend and hope you are too. Although there has been rain recently, New Mexico is still in severe drought and the risk of wildfire remains high. With that in mind, please take precautions and recreate responsibly this weekend to keep families and firefighters safe.

This Wildfire Wednesdays features:

An article on how to safely camp and recreate during fire restrictions.
A new mapping tool to check current fire restrictions across the state.
Fire prevention messages to share with your friends, family, and neighbors.

Thanks & enjoy the holiday weekend!

Gabe

How do I Stay Warm Without a Fire? How to Camp and Recreate Safely During Fire Restrictions

Photo credit: Sarote Impheng/EyeEm/Getty Images

Having a campfire can feel like an integral part of the camping experience but with fire restrictions in place and increased interest in Leave No Trace ethics, there are times when it is necessary to forgo the fire. There are plenty of ways to stay warm (and even roast marshmallows!) without a campfire plus it can create some unique opportunities, like a better view for stargazing. In this REI blogpost an Outdoor School Instructor shares her tips and tricks for how to make the most of going fire-less.

Click here to read the REI blog post

Know Before You Go: Check Fire Restrictions Using this New Mapping Tool

Map Credit: Esri, USGS | Esri, HERE, Garmin, FAO, NOAA, USGS, EPA | U.S. Bureau of Land Management - New Mexico State Office

Before you head out on your next adventure it is critical to know whether there are fire restrictions and how your plans may be affected. This interactive tool allows for you to click on your destination, see what fire restrictions are in place in that area, and learn about what the fire restrictions mean. For example, some of New Mexico’s forests are in Stage 1 fire restrictions (shown in yellow on the map) this means that you cannot have a dispersed campfire but you can have a campfire in a designated firepit at your Forest Service campsite when written notice allows.

Click here to explore fire restrictions

Fire Prevention Messages to Share with your Friends, Family, and Neighbors

You can be an advocate for fire prevention by sharing these messages on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, email or platform of your choice! We learn best from those we trust so by sharing these messages on social media you make a big difference within our community.