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Memorial Day Weekend Fire Awareness

Santa Fe – May 27, 2011 – The Santa Fe County Fire Department would like to remind all residents to be fire safe this Memorial Holiday weekend and remember Santa Fe County is currently in Open Burn Restrictions.

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
If residents are planning any kind of outing or camping trip, please check with the local area authorities to see if there are any burn restrictions in place for that area.

“Temperatures are expected to be in the low 80s with winds throughout the weekend. We cannot say it enough, it is so important that residents be diligent in protecting their communities by following the restrictions and not burning or throwing lit cigarettes or other smoking materials into the dry vegetation during this dry season,“ says Interim Fire Chief David Sperling.

Please keep in mind, any individual, firm, partnership or other entity found violating this 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.

For more information on the burn restrictions, contact the Santa Fe County Fire Prevention Division, (505) 995-6523 or visit www.santafecountyfire.org .