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Effective Immediately Santa Fe County Open Burn Restrictions 

Santa Fe – April 13, 2011 – The Santa Fe County Fire Department, through adoption by the Board of County Commissioners (BCC) issued Ordinance 2011-2, an emergency ordinance declaring hazardous fire conditions and imposing restrictions on open fires, smoking and other ignition sources. The open burn restrictions are due to low winter and spring precipitation, high winds and extreme fire danger. Restrictions are effective immediately and will be reviewed in 30 days for consideration of an extension.

Ordinance 2011-2 Prohibits:
• Campfires;
• 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 New Mexico 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

View Ordinance 2011-2

“The Santa Fe County Fire Department is taking all precautionary measures necessary to ensure the community avoids a catastrophic fire that is caused by any carless use of ignition source, we are experiencing extreme fire danger conditions and we need to address them accordingly,” said Fire Chief David Sperling.

Any individual, firm, partnership or other entity found violating this emergency ordinance shall be deemed guilty of a petty misdemeanor and shall be punished by imprisonment for up to ninety (90) days or a fine not to exceed three hundred dollars ($300.00) or both. Each act shall constitute a separate violation.

All 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.

For more information, contact the Santa Fe County Fire Prevention Division, (505) 995-6523.