Trail news - Lincoln National Forest

	Fire officials announce closure order for Lincoln National Forest
	Alamogordo, N.M. (April 22, 2008) – As fire danger increases in southeastern New Mexico, Fire Management Officials with the Lincoln National Forest (LNF) will close the forest for public access and use. The LNF closure order signed by Acting Forest Supervisor Jacqueline Buchanan goes into effect, 8:00 a.m., May 1, 2008. “Extremely dry conditions have warranted closure of the entire Lincoln National Forest, said Jacqueline Buchanan, Acting Forest Supervisor. “Closures in the past have proven to be an effective means of reducing the number of human-caused fires,” she said. “While campfire and smoking restrictions have been effective in terms of minimizing the number of fires, we are at the point that we cannot afford the risk of any human-caused fires. We are not only concerned about the risk to communities and natural resources, we are concerned about the potential difficulties evacuating recreationists from remote areas should a wildfire start,” she said. The Sacramento Ranger District concessionaire campgrounds, along with the Sunspot Astronomy and Visitor’s Center, Sunspot, NM, will remain open. Guests who utilize the Forest concessionaire campgrounds are reminded they cannot access Forest lands for recreation purposes. Also, within the concessionaire campgrounds the use of petroleum fueled stoves for cooking purposes, along with lanterns or heating devices are authorized because these devices are not considered fires, provided such devices meet the Fire Underwriter’s specifications for safety. The following Sacramento Ranger District concessionaire campgrounds will be open: Silver, Saddle, Apache, Sleepy Grass, Deerhead, Pines campground and the Aspen Group, Black Bear Group, Slide Group and Fir Group sites. The following areas are closed: Trestle Recreation Area, Karr Canyon Picnic Site, Sleepy Grass Picnic Site, Upper Karr Campground, all vistas, all trailheads and all dispersed sites. The use of all other campgrounds, day use picnic areas and cabins on the Forest are closed. All National Forest System Roads will be closed, but all interstates, state and county roads through the Lincoln National Forest will remain open. The following applies to the Smokey Bear, Sacramento and Guadalupe Ranger Districts: * Going into or being upon an area closed to public use. Areas closed to public use are all National Forest lands within the Smokey Bear, Sacramento and Guadalupe Ranger District. These areas are outlined on maps designating the specific areas and hereby made a part of this Closing Order. The following persons are exempt from this order: * Any Federal, State or local officer or member of an organized rescue or firefighting force in the performance of an official duty. * Residents living within the closed area and their guests, landowners or lessees of land within the closed area for access to their owned or leased property. * Persons engaged in a business delivering goods, packages or services to private property or contractors performing services for the government. * Persons with a written and approved entry permit or authorization letter, i.e., Grazing Permittees. Contact the Forest Supervisor or District Ranger Officer for additional information on restrictions or special use permit availability. The use of Fireworks is strictly prohibited on all National Forest System Lands. The Lincoln National Forest will reopen to the public when sufficient precipitation is received to adequately reduce our extremely dry conditions and reduce the risk of wildfire to a manageable level. A significant amount of moisture will be required to reduce the extreme fire danger on the Lincoln National Forest. The area closures do not affect Federal and State Highways that lead into the mountain communities. Please do not stop on the sides of any highways. Property owners and their guests will continue to have access to private lands within the Forest. “Business will be as usual,” said Cloudcroft Mayor Dave Venable. “We want to inform those who have made or contemplate making travel plans for New Mexico and our southern communities that our stores, restaurants, lodging and other services are available and will be open. Also, all special events to include May Fair – May 24-25, High Rolls Cherry Festival – June 21 and 22; Western Roundup; July Jamboree, and Cloudcroft Light Opera Company melodramas will go on as scheduled. All private campgrounds will be open. Come on up and enjoy our mountain communities and hospitality.” Contact the local chambers of commerce or arts councils for the City of Alamogordo, Villages of Cloudcroft, Tularosa, Ruidoso, Ruidoso Downs, Mayhill, Sacramento, Weed, Timberon, Capitan and Queen to obtain a calendar of events. Visitors are encouraged to visit these mountain communities. “Even though the forest is closed, this closure action is not permanent,” said Ruidoso Mayor L. Ray Nunley, “We encourage visitors to visit Ruidoso and our mountain communities and remind them that safety for our visitors and citizens is first and foremost.” Special events will be occurring in Ruidoso over the next several months to include the “4th Annual Smokey Bear Days” – May 2-3, in Capitan; the Aspencash Motorcycle Run & Trade Show – Ruidoso Convention Center - May 15-18 or Ruidoso Downs Racetrack: Opening Day – May 23, 2008. The following offices can provide information on upcoming events: Cloudcroft Chamber of Commerce - (505) 682-2733 Ruidoso Chamber of Commerce- (505) 257-7395 Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce – (505) 887-6516 Violations of these prohibitions are punishable by a fine of not more than $5,000 for an individual and $10,000 for an organization, or imprisonment for not more than six months or both. 16 USC 551 and 18 USC 3559 and 3571. To report a fire, call the 24-hour toll free number at 1-877-695-1663 or (575) 434-2286 or dial 911. For more information on current fire restrictions on public lands in New Mexico and Arizona, call 1-877-864-6985. This is a toll-free hotline sponsored by natural resource agencies in the Southwest. Please visit our website: Southwest Area Wildland Fire Operations at www.fs.fed.us/r3/fire. For more information about the Fire Closure Order or the Lincoln National Forest, please contact the Supervisor’s Office at (575) 434-7200, or one of the following District Offices at: - Smokey Bear Ranger District – (575) 257-4095 - Sacramento Ranger District Office – (575) 682-2551 - Carlsbad Ranger District Office – (575) 885-4181 All offices are open Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Please visit the Lincoln National Forest website at: www.fs.fed.us/r3/lincoln