LAFD NEWS RELEASE

Los Alamos Fire Department’s Fire Marshal Wendy Servey is enacting Stage 2 Fire Restrictions for Los Alamos County, effective Monday, April 25, 2022. 

According to Servey, the decision was in cooperation with regional agency partners (Los Alamos Fire Department, Los Alamos National Lab, New Mexico State Forestry, Santa Fe National Forest, Bandelier) who share information and monitor regional weather conditions and take a team approach to reducing wildfire risk.

 “Seasonal Fire restrictions are often developed based on specific criteria related to wildland fire risk, such as moisture content of vegetation, weather outlooks, human risk factors and firefighting resource availability,” Servey said. 

The following are NOT ALLOWED during Stage 2 Fire Restrictions: 

• Non-permissible fireworks as defined by State statue adopted by County ordinance at your home, public or County land or open space(s) are prohibited. (See Los Alamos County – Fire Marshal’s Office homepage for more information – https://lacnm.com/LAFD-FireMarshal
• Sky lanterns. 
• Building, maintaining an open fire, campfires, to include charcoal (briquet) grills at all dispersed camping sites (undeveloped) and developed campgrounds or any County open space(s) and or public lands and private residences are prohibited. 
• Recreational fires at your home in fixed or portable (3×2) fire pits are prohibited.
• Driving off designated roadways, or using or operating a generator, chainsaw or other internal combustible engine without a spark arresting device.

Normally, per fire code, the following activities require an approved permit of use through the Fire Marshal’s Office. As a result of Stage 2 Fire Restrictions the following permits will NOT be issued: 

1. Open burning (slash piles, yard waste) larger than a recreational fire (3’x 2’) size per fire code permit. 
2. Bonfire permit. 
3. Blasting /explosive permit. 

The following are ALLOWED during Stage 2 Fire Restrictions: 

• Stoves, grills, lanterns, and heaters fueled by propane, or other liquified petroleum fuels may be used if they meet manufacturer’s safety specifications and have on/off switches. 
• Smoking only in enclosed vehicles or buildings.
• Permissible fireworks as defined by State Statue adopted by County ordinance for use at your home, but not for use on public or County land and open space(s). (See Los Alamos County website link above for more information.) Permissible aerial use may be limited with a proclamation, if adopted locally near the holiday. 
• Per fire code, Fireworks (professional displays) or other pyrotechnic devices only with an approved permit from the Los Alamos County – Fire Marshal’s Office, which will be evaluated at the time of request considering current fire conditions.
• Welding or operating acetylene torch or other torch with a flame only with a valid approved operational permit issued by the Fire Marshal’s Office, Fire Marshal.

Fire Marshal Servey discussed that the date is nearing of the 22 years anniversary of Cerro Grande Fire in 2000 where over 235 homes were lost to a wildfire and over 400 people were displaced. Additionally in 2011, the Los Conchas Fire once again threatened Los Alamos.

Servey stated “Extreme drought conditions are in effect, and many fires are seen throughout the state and the Southwest, and we have to remember that we are not immune. The Fire Department thanks the community for their continued vigilance and cooperation, and we will advise as soon as conditions change.”