To follow: A letter from Commissioner Holian about the County Burn Restrictions and notice of a public half-day fire safety meeting at the County Fairgrounds on May 17 (it's an attachment to her letter). Remember also the community fire safety meeting at Hondo 2 on June 6 @ 5:30.
From Kathy Holian, County Commissioner
Dear Santa Fe County residents:
You may well have seen information in the newspaper about the County Burn Restriction Ordinance, but I wanted to reinforce that we in the County are taking this fire season seriously. The last three years have been the driest on record for our area (although tree ring data show that there have been times in the past when there were 100-year droughts).
We must be especially careful this year. If you would like more information about how to decrease the fire danger at your home, please visit the following website ( http://www.sfcfire-wildland.com ) or contact the Wildland Division of the Santa Fe County Fire Department.
Fire Chief Sperling emphasized in our meeting that anyone who sees dangerous actions should call 911 and report the event. An example of a dangerous action is someone throwing a lit cigarette out a car window. The Fire Department and/or the Sheriff's Department will investigate and charge the individual with a violation of the County Ordinance if appropriate.
I am also including a notice about a meeting sponsored by the Santa Fe-Pojoaque Soil and Water Conservation District that will be held on Friday, May 17th about our forests and what's happening to them with the drought. There should be quite a bit of useful information for those of you who live in the Wildland Urban Interface about decreasing your fire risk. This is a public meeting, and everybody is invited. It will be from 9:00 a.m. to noon at the County Fairgrounds.
Sincerely,
-Kathy
Santa Fe County Approved Open Burn Restriction Emergency Ordinance
Santa Fe County – May 7, 2013 – Due to low winter precipitation, high winds and very high fire danger the Santa Fe County Fire Department by approval of the Board of County Commissioners (BCC) issued an emergency ordinance at the April 30, 2013 BCC meeting declaring hazardous fire conditions and imposing restrictions on open fires, smoking and other ignition sources.
Ordinance 2013-001 prohibits:
- Open fires of any kind;
- Open burning of vegetation or rubbish;
- Smoking within a County park, campground or any wild land area, except within an enclosed vehicle or in a building which is specifically authorized for such and is exempt from the NM No Smoking in Public Facilities Act;
- Littering on public roadways/areas with ignited smoking materials;
- Use of off-road vehicles, motor bikes, or other motorized apparatus within county parks, campgrounds and wild land areas;
- The issuance of licenses or permits for open burning;
- Campfires
Any individual, firm, partnership or other entity found violating this emergency ordinance can be found guilty of a petty misdemeanor and punished by imprisonment for up to 90 days or a fine not to exceed $300.00, or both. Each act shall constitute a separate violation.
“In the past Santa Fe County has not considered burn restrictions until the summer months, but with the limited snow fall, lack of rain, and continuous winds the drought situation in the County and state wide has increased the threat of a wildland fire. We ask that residents be diligent in preventing a wildland fire emergency from occurring,” says Fire Chief David Sperling.
Any open burn permits that have been issued for the next 30 days are now void. Residents will need to obtain a new permit once restrictions have been lifted. A copy of the Ordinance is available www.santafecountynm.gov/documents/ordinances/Ordinance2013-1.pdf.
-Kathy Holian
Santa Fe County Commissioner, District 4
Office: 505-986-6205
Email: kholian@santafecounty.org