Home AboutUs History& Maps Business Directory News & Events

Articles & More
Clubs & Activities LinksMembership Merchandise


SANDIAPARK


Scenic Byway Neighborhood Association


Fire Information Page

Home Fire Safety Quiz Preparing for WildfireWildfire Safety TipsFire Restrictions
Notes from Community Fire Meeting
Community Wildfire Protection Plan Pets – Don't forget them



 

 

 

EMIFPA WILDLAND FIRE SAFETY NOTES

 

Fire Season-Are we out of the Woods?

 

July and August have given us ample amounts of rain.  What could all this moisture mean for our Fall Fire Season?  Assuming our current monsoonal pattern ends come September, all this lush green could mean much more “fine fuels” for a wildfire.  It happens many times in the west where we get substantial summer moisture and we “green-up”, then we get hit with a dry fall.  All it takes is enough time to dry and cure the fine fuels.   So what are fine fuels?  These are known by fire managers as 1-hour time lag fuels.  That means that fuels (cured grasses or dried sticks and brush) 0-1/4 inches in diameter can lose 63% of their fuel moisture in one hour given ample drying or sun exposure.  So this means that all this green vegetation can dry out or cure to create additional fire hazard this fall.  Our institutional memory is so very short.  Remember, were we dry last winter?  Were we dry this spring?  Did we have an early fire season?  So often when it rains our memory becomes “soggy” and we forget that wildfires are still a possibility for the East Mountains this fall.  Stay Vigilant with clearing those fine fuels as they brown.

 

 

·       With any chance of a wildfire, be prepared and have a plan.

·       Notice the new billboard as you travel westbound on I-40 in Tijeras Canyon (Carnuel Center) asking “Do You have a Plan”?

·       Understand that this fall may put us at risk again for wildfires

·       View the East Mountains and the place we live as a fire environment

·       Re-visit your fire preparedness that you spent time with this past spring and stay vigilant with understanding what you would do in the event of a Wildfire.

·       You can find out about the national fire situation at www.inciweb.org

 

 

“HAVE A SAFE AND RESPONSIBLE FALL”

 

 


Bruce Hawkinson

20 Cienega Canyon Road

P O Box 205

Sandia Park, NM 87047

 

PARTIAL CLOSURES ON CIBOLA NATIONAL FOREST BEGIN MAY 12, 2006

Albuquerque, May 9, 2006 ¡V Beginning Friday, May 12, many portions of 
the 
Cibola National Forest will be closed. Fire danger remains extreme and 
warrants closing a number of areas to visitors.  ¡§Closures are a last 
resort and they are not taken lightly. We all must work together to 
keep our 
forest as safe as possible and this includes staying away from areas 
that 
have been closed.¡¨ stated Forest Supervisor Nancy Rose. ¡§Recent 
isolated 
rain showers have brought little, if any, measurable moisture to the 
forest¡¨ she added.

Beginning 8:00 am, Friday, May 12, the following areas are affected:

SANDIA RANGER DISTRICT:  The following campgrounds and recreation sites 
remain open: La Cueva, Juan Tabo, Cienega Canyon, Sulphur Canyon, Doc 
Long, 
Dry Camp, Balsam Glade, Capulin Spring, Nine Mile, Pine Flat, and Oak 
Flat 
recreation day use sites are open.  Cedro and Deadman Group Reservation 
Area 
Campgrounds are open.  Sandia Peak Ski Area, Sandia Crest Electronic 
Site, 
Sandia Crest Observation Area, Sandia Peak Tram, High Finance 
Restaurant and 
associated facilities, and Sandia Crest House are open.  State Highway 
536 
(Sandia Crest National Scenic Byway) is open.  All major roads on the 
district remain open with the exception of Highway 165; most secondary 
roads 
will be closed. Forest Road 445 is open to foot traffic and authorized 
vehicles. Pressurized liquid or gas stoves, lanterns and heaters are 
NOT 
allowed ¡V Cold camping only. Smoking is prohibited, except within an 
enclosed vehicle or building.

The following trails and areas remain open:  those portions of Forest 
Trail 
365 (Foothills Trail), including secondary trails associated with 
Forest 
Trail 365 and outside of the Sandia Mountain Wilderness; Sandia Peak 
Ski 
Area mountain bike/hiking trails within the ski area boundary only; the 
Crest Trail (Forest Trail 130) from the Crest House/Crest Observation 
Area 
to the Sandia Peak Tram and associated facilities; and Kiwanis Cabin 
Trail 
94. La Luz trail will be closed. All other sites, trails and 
backcountry 
areas are closed.

MOUNTAINAIR RANGER DISTRICT:  Red Canyon Recreational Site is open 
daily 
from 8am to 6pm (DAY USE ONLY ¡V NO CAMPING) and accessible only 
through 
Forest Road 253. Please note all trails accessible from Red Canyon 
Campground are closed. All other campgrounds, trails and trailheads are 
closed.  The Manzano Mountain Wilderness is closed.  Pressurized liquid 
or 
gas stoves, lanterns and heaters meeting safety specifications are 
allowed 
at Red Canyon Recreational Site. The Gallinas Mountains near Corona are 
open; however Red Cloud campground and Forest Road 99 are CLOSED. 
Building, 
maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire, charcoal broiler, 
coal or 
wood stove are prohibited. All personal use firewood cutting will not 
be 
allowed until further notice. Extensions will be granted to individuals 
with 
existing personal use permits. Personal use firewood cutting will 
recommence 
when weather conditions permit. All vehicles must remain on Forest 
roads. 
Smoking is prohibited, except within an enclosed vehicle or building.

MAGDALENA RANGER DISTRICT:  The following campgrounds are open: Luna 
Park 
and Springtime Campgrounds in the San Mateo unit and roads leading to 
them. 
The south end of the San Mateo Unit is open south of West Red Canyon. 
The 
Bear and Gallinas units are open. Building, maintaining, attending or 
using 
a fire, campfire, charcoal broiler, coal or wood stove are prohibited. 
Pressurized liquid or gas stoves, lanterns and heaters meeting safety 
specifications are allowed. All personal use firewood cutting will not 
be 
allowed until further notice. Extensions will be granted to individuals 
with 
existing personal use permits. Personal use firewood cutting will 
recommence 
when weather conditions permit. All vehicles must remain on Forest 
roads. 
Smoking is prohibited, except within an enclosed vehicle or building. 
All 
other areas not mentioned are closed.

MT. TAYLOR RANGER DISTRICT:  The following recreational areas remain 
open: 
Coal Mine Canyon, McGaffey Campgrounds and McGaffey Lake and only main 
access roads leading to them. Forest Development Road 239, which is 
designated as the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail access 
through 
the closure area is open to non-vehicular traffic by permit only. 
Building, 
maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire, charcoal broiler, 
coal or 
wood stove are prohibited. Pressurized liquid or gas stoves, lanterns 
and 
heaters meeting safety specifications are allowed. All personal use 
firewood 
cutting will not be allowed until further notice. Extensions will be 
granted 
to individuals with existing personal use permits. Personal use 
firewood 
cutting will recommence when weather conditions permit. All vehicles 
must 
remain on Forest roads. Smoking is prohibited, except within an 
enclosed 
vehicle or building.
Some additional roads are open.  Call the Mt. Taylor District office 
for 
additional road information.  All other sites, trails and backcountry 
areas 
are closed.

The following restrictions apply to the Kiowa and Rita Blanca National 
Grasslands:
„XBuilding, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire, charcoal 
broiler, coal or wood stove are prohibited. Pressurized liquid or gas 
stoves, lanterns and heaters meeting safety specifications are allowed.
„XAll vehicles must remain on Forest roads.
„XSmoking is prohibited, except within an enclosed vehicle or building.
„XAs always, fireworks are prohibited on all national forests and 
national 
grasslands.

For more information contact Mark Chavez, Cibola National Forest 
Supervisor¡¦s Office at 505-346-3900 or one of the following district 
offices:
-Sandia Ranger District, 505-281-3304
-Mountainair Ranger District, 505-847-2990
-Magdalena Ranger District, 505-854-2281
-Mt. Taylor Ranger District, 505-287-8833
-Kiowa and Rita Blanca National Grasslands, 505-374-9652

Additional fire information for the Southwest Area is available at 
http://gacc.nifc.gov/swcc/index.htm.


For those who have special needs, or would like to give the fires department better directions to their house, Bernalillo County has a CARE page. Please take the time to fill
it out – it could save your life!

Please see this Firewise page on clearing your land. http://www.firewise.org/tips.htm

Everyone should be involved in the community wildfire protection plan. The SPSBNA board will be at CWPP meetings, and will update the association via email and this
website. Please join our email list at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sandia-park/ to receive these updates.

Other links via Commissioner Brasher's page http://www.bernco.gov/live/departments.asp?dept=2324

Home Fire Safety Quiz

Preparing for Wildfire

Wildland Fires
Proper planning can avoid losses as Wildland fire season approaches
Rapid growth of brush and grass in the spring creates a fire hazard in the summer as the sun dries out the new growth. Wildland fires are
especially dangerous for those who live in brushy or wooded areas. Residents are urged to plan and prepare now to avoid loss of life or
property to natural cover fires.
A residential protection plan for grass and brush fires has four phases. The first phase is escape. At least two alternate routes should be
preplanned. The second phase is property protection. Systematic fuel removal to develop firebreaks is good planning. Third is early fire
department notification and response. Just as important as the fire departments phone number is clear address identification of
the endangered land and buildings. Fourth is fire suppression. The ability to self-extinguish small fires can prevent larger fires.

ESCAPE ROUTES
Escape routes are only valuable if they carry one away from danger. This means at least two alternate routes, ideally downhill, away from the fire.
Natural cover fire spreads most rapidly uphill, preheating the fuel ahead of it. Escape routes should be at least 20 feet wide and clear of flash
fuels such as arbor vitae, cedar, and scotch broom for at least 10 feet on each side. Low ground cover or bark dust is ideal for minimizing fire
exposure hazard along driveways and rural access roads.

PROPERTY PROTECTION
On level ground, fire must have relatively continuous fuel to spread. Breaks in the fuel can slow or even stop fire spread. Residents in windy
areas must consider the hazard of sparks or burning brands over wider distances. People in brushy areas should consider the use of lawns,
gravel, and bark dust to provide open space, especially on downhill exposures. Fifty to 75-foot openings between heavy brush and valuable
property are minimum protection. One good idea is to minimize shrubs and lower branches under trees. Once natural cover fires climb into
trees, the fire can grow explosively and burn over long distances. By eliminating shrubs and lower branches, the resident limits the ladder the
fire can easily climb to leaves and needles. Obviously, green shrubs and grass are less hazardous fuel than dry materials. Frequent watering
can keep decorative shrubbery less flammable. Some types of plants are more fire-resistant than others. Most nurseries can assist with
selection of more fire-resistant shrubs. A major cause of fire spread is the wood shake or shingle roof. Such roofs ignite and burn rapidly,
throwing sparks and burning brands into the wind. Residents with such roofs should be aware of the increased hazard. If fire occurs nearby,
a sprinkler and garden hose on the roof can reduce the exposure hazard. When roof replacement time comes, less flammable roofing materials
make good sense in wooded or brushy areas.

FIRE DEPARTMENT NOTIFICATION
The correct number to use in an emergency situation is 9-1-1. Phone stickers are available from local fire stations. Each phone in the house
should be equipped with the 9-1-1 sticker. Residents should write their address on the sticker as well. Valuable time can be saved if the caller
can rapidly give the correct address, including correct spelling of street name and geographic direction. Computers used in dispatching fire
and emergency medical responses are very sensitive to proper spelling of address. Residents can also speed response by making access
lanes and driveways with their address on a post or sign. If several homes share a lane, an inclusive listing is very helpful (1001-1051).
Individually addressed buildings should each be labeled with three-inch minimum numerals facing the access lane or road.

SUPPRESSION
Small fires can easily be extinguished if long garden hoses capable of reaching all parts of the property are connected to water spigots and
ready to use. The garden hose nozzle is a good way to increase water stream reach. Sprinkling systems can also be used to extinguish small
fires or prevent fire spread. They should be equipped with a manual start method if on automatic timers.
People, who live in wooded, bushy areas have considerable privacy and comfort. If they realize the hazards from fire that occur as trees and
shrubs dry out, the resident can ensure the threat of fire will be minimized.

Wildfire Safety Tips

SMART FIRE SAFETY SAVES LIVES !

Post emergency phone numbers by each telephone in the house.
Install Smoke Detectors in all living spaces.
If you smoke, use your ashtray.
Store and use flammable liquids properly.
Don’t keep combustible materials under decks or elevated porches.
Keep at least two means of escape (either a door/window) in each room.
Your name and address should be prominently posted at driveway entrance so it is visible and legible from both directions of travel

Landscape Maintenance
Keep a clearing of at least 30 feet around your house as a defensible zone.
Space the trees you plant carefully.
Create "fuelbreaks" – using driveways, gravel walkways, or lawns
Thin and prune trees and shrubs regularly.
Remove leaf clutter from your roof and yard.
Mow regularly.
Remove dead or overhanging branches.
Store firewood away from your house.

Have A Fire Escape Plan
Have a family meeting to discuss what to do if there is a fire.
Practice your plan.
Plan two exits from every room
Keep calm.
Close the door.
Don’t go back.
Keep necessities in a suitcase/luggage and ready to go.
Decide on a meeting place so you will know if everyone has gotten out safely.

When Wildfire Threatens
SEND THE ALARM
Dial 911 to report a fire.
Listen to your battery-operated radio for reports and evacuation information.

WALK QUICKLY, DON’T PANIC
Feel the door on your way out with the back of your hand. If the door is hot, do not open. Close door behind you to slow the spread of fire..

STAY LOW AND GO
If there’s smoke, escape by staying very low to the ground where air is cooler.

DON’T GO BACK
Do not go back into a fire for anything! Your life is your MOST valuable possession.

Pets/Livestock And Wildfire
First and foremost, you are responsible for the safety and care of your pets and livestock.
Contact hotels, motels or friends outside your immediate area to plan for an alternate shelter for your pets/livestock.
Develop a buddy system with a neighbor in case you or your neighbor are not home when fire threatens. Make sure a neighbor is familiar
with your pets and has a key to your home.
Assemble a portable pet disaster supplies kit including:

  • Medications and medical reports

  • Sturdy leashes & harnesses

  • Current photos

  • Food and water

  • Carriers to transport pets

  • Information on feeding schedules, medical conditions, behavior problems, and the name and number of your veterinarian.


Make sure each pet has a collar, harness, or halter that has your name, address, and phone number. Add an alternate phone number if possible.
Even a trusted pet can bite or scratch when frightened.
Once away from danger keep all animals securely leashed or tied.
Don’t leave animals unattended anywhere they can run off.
When you return home, give your pets time to settle back into their routines.

WILDFIRES . . . ARE YOU PREPARED?
Living in a house surrounded by nature and wildlands can be peaceful and beautiful, but it can also be risky. The 1996 fire season claimed
thousands of acres, 32 homes, and 50 outbuildings in one area of New Mexico alone.

Wildfires can happen anywhere in the country, at any time. They are unpredictable… and no region is immune. In short, if you are living or
building on the edge of a wildland area, you need to prepare for the risk of wildfire.

When a wildfire occurs, the demand on the local fire department is intense. Protecting people’s lives is their first priority. Protecting property
and resources is secondary.

We encourage you to read and implement the following information. By doing so you can reduce the risk of and prepare for wildfires.

Don't Forget Pets in an Emergency

Got pets?

The best way to protect yourself and your loved ones from disaster is to have a plan. And that includes your animals.

Studies show that 90% of pets that are left behind during an emergency do not survive according to the Bernalillo County Public Safety Department’s Animal Control
section. To reduce those stats, pet owners are encouraged to follow these simple suggestions if they’re forced to evacuate their homes:

  • Contact hotels and motels in your area beforehand to find out which ones will allow you to bring your pets or ask friends or relatives if they will take care of your
    pets if there is an emergency. 

  • Make sure your pets are up to date on all their vaccines in the event you need to place them in a kennel.  ID your pets with collars that list your name, address,
    and phone numbers. 

  • Keep a pet carrier by the door for each small pet and a small birdcage for birds. Assemble a pet disaster supply kit with your veterinarian’s name, a copy of your
    pets’ medical records and their feeding requirements, their leashes, a current photo of each animal, a two-days supply of food, water, and your pets’ medications,
    bowls, and cat litter and a cat litter box, if needed. 

  • If you have a horse(s), make sure your horse trailer is in good working condition and ready to go.

Bernalillo County, and much of New Mexico, is currently under severe wildfire alerts.

"One of the biggest concerns for residents and firefighters in an urban-wildland fire setting is the evacuation and care of pets," says Bett Clark, Bernalillo
County Fire and Rescue Department Chief.  "I have pets and I know how important their safety and welfare are to me. That’s why I encourage anyone with
pets to think ahead and prepare for their well-being in the event of an emergency."
 

If you have birds, the National Red Cross has these suggestions: 

Birds should be transported in a secure travel cage or carrier. In cold weather, wrap a blanket over the carrier and warm up the car before placing birds inside. During warm
weather, carry a plant mister to mist the birds' feathers periodically. Do not put water inside the carrier during transport. Provide a few slices of fresh fruits and vegetables
with high water content. Have a photo for identification and leg bands. If the carrier does not have a perch, line it with paper towels and change them frequently. Try to keep
the carrier in a quiet area. Do not let the birds out of the cage or carrier.

About Other Pets…

Reptiles
Snakes can be transported in a pillowcase but they must be transferred to more secure housing when they reach the evacuation site. If your snakes require frequent
feedings, carry food with you. Take a water bowl large enough for soaking as well as a heating pad. When transporting house lizards, follow the same directions as for
birds.

Pocket Pets
Small mammals (hamsters, gerbils, etc.) should be transported in secure carriers suitable for maintaining the animals while sheltered. Take bedding materials, food bowls,
and water bottles.

A Final Word
If you must evacuate, do not leave your animals behind. Evacuate them to a prearranged safe location if they cannot stay with you during the evacuation period.
(remember, pets are not allowed in Red Cross shelters.) If there is a possibility that disaster may strike while you are out of the house, there are precautions you can
take to increase your pets' chances of survival, but they are not a substitute for evacuating with your pets.

Notes from the Feb 22 Community Fire Meeting

Commissioner Brasher started us off by introducing us to fire chief Bett Clark of Bernalillo County fire and rescue. Her mission is education, prevention, and response. She
 told us there are 4 stations in the east mountains; 6,10,13,11 each has 4 people 24 hours a day. She stressed the need for us to create defensible space around our
 homes (please see tips elsewhere on this page). Please watch where you put your ashes, and especially your cigarette butts – the bes thing to do is drown them in water.
 As for evacuation plans, there are none. It will have to be based on a fire pattern, so know how to get out of your neighborhood, and have more than one way out. In case of 
a wildfire, get to a radio and listen, the main one is 770am. Make sure if you have special needs, that you fill out a CARE form through the fire dept. Make sure you have
 plans for: meeting your family, medications, pets, and have a non-electric phone plugged in. Brasher then gave his home phone 298-8312, cell 804-0940, and office, via
 Robert Doucette 768-4002. Karen Takai of te forest dept spoke about moisture testing. They are testing every week right now which they would usually be doing in late
 April or early May. Tree moisture is at 12%, with pinon/juniper being at 7%. They are working on prepositioning equipment such as helicopters. Frank Bark(?) county fire
 marshal said there would be firewise conferences soon. You can call them and they will come out to assess your property. 
FIRE RESTRICTIONS IN EFFECT FOR THE CIBOLA NATIONAL FOREST 
BEGINNING TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2006

ALBUQUERQUE, NM, February 27, 2006 - The Cibola National Forest will implement Fire Restrictions effective 8:00 am Tuesday, February 28, 2006.
Cibola National Forest Supervisor Nancy Rose explained, "Since the weather outlook calls for warmer temperatures and continued dry conditions, we feel it is necessary
 to take these precautions."  Stage I Fire Restrictions will be in effect for the Mt. Taylor, Magdalena, Mountainair, and Sandia Ranger Districts as well as the Kiowa and
 Rita Blanca National Grasslands. Those restrictions are as follows:
Open Campfire Restrictions:
Campfires, charcoal grills and stove fires are prohibited on national
forest lands, except in Forest Service developed camp and picnic 
grounds where grills are provided. Pressurized liquid or gas stoves, lanterns and heaters meeting safety
specifications are allowed. Please contact the Cibola National Forest 
for more details regarding where fires are allowed.
Smoking Restrictions:
Smoking is allowed within an enclosed vehicle or building; a developed
recreation site; or while stopped in an area at least three feet in
diameter and free of all flammable material.
Fireworks:
As always, fireworks are prohibited on all national forest lands.

Please contact Mark Chavez at the Cibola National Forest 
Supervisor's office (505) 346-3900, for additional information.

The Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP)

www.ciudadswcd.org/emcwpp.html


The area we know as the “East Mountains” that includes the eastern slopes of the Sandia and Manzano Mountains has escaped the devastating
wildfires experienced by other areas--so far! However, fuels for such fires (overcrowded forests, dry grass and weeds, dead and down limbs
and logs, dead trees and pine needles) and conditions for such wildfires are ever-present. We can minimize the damage to our forests, streams,
wildlife, infrastructure, and private property from wildfire, but we must take action.

Efforts have begun to create a Community Wildfire Protection Plan (the Plan) for the East Mountains. The effort to create the Plan is
spearheaded by the East Mountain Interagency Fire Protection Association (EMIFPA) in cooperation with the Ciudad Soil and Water
Conservation District. A community-based process will be used to create the Plan. Input to the Plan is sought from all interested parties,
residents, and public agencies.

A Community Wildfire Protection Plan can take a variety of forms and may address issues such as wildfire response, hazard mitigation,
community preparedness, or structural protection—or all of the above. The only requirements of the Plan are (1) it must be collaboratively
developed, (2) it must identify and prioritize areas for hazardous fuel reduction, and (3) it must recommend measures that homeowners and
communities can take to reduce the ignitability of structures throughout the area. These requirements are described in the Healthy Forests
Restoration Act of 2003.

As stated earlier, this effort is just beginning. A grant from the New Mexico Association of Counties will provide financial resources to aid our
effort, so progress may come quickly. A handbook that includes eight steps to help prepare a plan has been recommended and is available
on-line:www.safnet.org/policyandpress/cwpp.cfm This site also provides examples of plans created by other communities and links for
additional resources on the internet.

Do you want to help protect our community from wildfire risks and in the process better protect your own home? Contact EMIFPA at 281-9756
or
albuturkey@hotmail.com if you wish to receive notification of activities and events or watch for notifications at your local businesses and in
the newspapers.

For those of you who were unable to attend the meeting on Feb. 8th 2006, we would like to provide you the opportunity to contribute to the process. By understanding the questions
 and concerns of community members, we hope to develop a plan that is useful and relevant for all of us. Please share your responses by email or mail by March 8th so that we may
 consider your ideas in the first phase of plan development.
To respond by email, please copy the following questions into your email client, and send them to emcwpp@comcast.net 
To respond by mail, please print out the following questions, write or type your response, and address to:
EMCWPP
c/o SWCA
001 Prospect Pl., Ste 100
Albuquerque, NM 87110
1. What information would you most like to have regarding fire in our community?
2. What actions could our community take to be more prepared for wildfire?
3. What could you do to help protect your home and community?
4. What role do neighboring private landowners and land management agencies play in reducing the threat of wildfire?
5. What would you like fire emergency service agencies and personnel to know about protecting your neighborhood from wildfire?
6.Other questions or comments?
Krista Bonfantine
Environmental Scientist
Fire and Water Resources
SWCA Environmental Consultants
Albuquerque Office
office: 505.254.1115
cell: 505.250.3629

 The CWPP Project Area