Lowering Fire Risk: The Village Enters Level Two Restrictions
Learn what that means for the Village, National Forest, and our visitors as we enter into a dry, windy fire season
This week, the Lincoln National Forest and the Village of Cloudcroft implemented new fire restrictions.
Our Contributing Editor, Drew Gaines, created an easy-to-read infographic that we at the Reader encourage businesses, lodgers, and concerned citizens to post wherever they can.
The village moved into Level 2 restrictions, which means:
No outside fires or grills with open flames (excluding propane grills for now).
No smoking within 3 feet of “combustible materials.”
It’s unlawful to operate a two-cycle engine that is not equipped with a “USDA-approved spark arrestor or fire mesh.”
The ordinance, signed by Mayor Pro-tem Jim Maynard on Tuesday, March 11th, states that “while all fires are discouraged under this restriction, indoor fires are permitted.” Permits for outdoor fires are not issued while fire restrictions are in place.
Campfires in dispersed camping areas are prohibited in the national forest. However, people can still use Forest Service-provided metal rings or pedestal grills.
No smoking unless you’re in an enclosed building or car. View the Lincoln National Forest infographic here:
The Otero County Office of Emergency Services announced that yesterday, March 11th, was a No Burn Day due to weather conditions:
“Please refrain from any outdoor burning to reduce the fire risks in the county. We thank you for helping us keep our community safe.”
How are these measures enforced?
Depending on their jurisdiction and mutual aid agreements, local, county, state, and federal law enforcement officers issue citations for breaking fire danger rating ordinances.
According to New Mexico Fire Info and the Bureau of Land Management, violating fire restrictions can result in fines and/or imprisonment.
Check out this dashboard for a list of year-round restrictions in the Southwest.
Fire and rain
Mayor Timothy King recently created a survey for Cloudcroft residents on fire and water issues. The survey lets you rank various issues and give the mayor, trustees, and even the president a 1-10 rating.
Fire on the mountain
Last week on Thursday, March 6, shortly after the Cloudcroft Village Council held an emergency meeting to discuss fire danger rating measures, a structure fire broke out within the village limits in the Woodlands Way neighborhood behind Big Daddy’s Diner.
The Reader was on the scene and reporting. Follow Cloudcroft Reader on Facebook and Instagram for exclusive, timely content like this Reader Reel:
One structure was affected—the cabin’s owners lost their family home to the blaze. There were no reported fatalities, and all occupants, including pets, were safely evacuated.
During the emergency council meeting earlier in the day, Cloudcroft Volunteer Fire Chief Erich Wuersching noted that this fire season has been warmer and drier than in previous years. Luckily, local emergency responders were prepared and worked efficiently to contain the fire.
Mayhill VFD Fire Chief Cody Welchel and officials on the scene confirmed that the Cloudcroft Volunteer Fire Department, Otero County Office of Emergency Services, the High Rolls and James Canyon Volunteer Fire Departments, and U.S. Forest Service hotshots responded.
Eyewitnesses reported that gusting southwest winds contributed to embers spreading during the fire's peak.
Trustee Tabitha Foster, who was on the scene and directing traffic away from the active firehose, confirmed that hotshots established a perimeter near the structure fire. Sources indicate that the firefighters contained several small spot fires ignited by flying embers. Officials say one ember start was put out a surprising distance away, at the junction of highways 244 and 82.
We will follow this story and post any new developments.
The Reader is proud to be sponsored in part by great businesses like Ski Cloudcroft:
Learn about sponsorship opportunities for your business in support of the Reader. Contact us for more information at sponsorship-info@cloudcroftreader.com
Cloudcroft Reader is proud to be sponsored in part by great businesses like The Lodge, Dusty Boots Motel and Cafe, Instant Karma, Off the Beaten Path, Future Real Estate, Ski Cloudcroft, Cloudcroft Therapeutic Massage, High Altitude, Be in the Mountains Yoga, The Elk Shed, Otero County Electric Cooperative, and the Peñasco Valley Telephone Cooperative.
With 2,480+ email subscribers and 5,600+ Facebook followers, the Cloudcroft Reader is the most widely read publication serving the greater Cloudcroft community. It does the reporting no one else does.
Position your business one click away from the people that make Cloudcroft unique.
Learn more about fire danger and how to prepare your home:
Cloudcroft Urged to Prepare for a High-Risk Fire Season: Here’s What to Know
Fire Forum Recap: Cloudcroft Residents Get Crash Course in Wildfire Preparedness
Something’s Burning: Protecting Cloudcroft Where Wildland and Village Meet
A Day in the Life: Revealing Visit with Our Own Sacramento Hotshots, Now Battling Ruidoso Fires
Thank you to our supporters:
The Cloudcroft Reader exists because of the support of our neighbors.
Tammy Vasilatos, Marina Ellison, Brent Jordan, Tod Taylor, Mike & Jill DeGraw, Alynn Rivera, Brian & Cristy Thomma, Charles Venable, Sandra McBrayer, Barbara Hartley, Keith Hamilton, Mike & Flora McClung, Hal Payne, Kathy Switzer, Ray Haller, Gary Calmia, Joan Nussbaum, Billy Anders, Don Vanlandingham, Patricia Troell, Meredith Kosse, Anne Shuttee, Mike and Marilyn Moffitt, Sean Smith, Carolyn Anderson, Robert Mace, Don Watts, Matt Willett, John & Debbie Ferdetta, Joshua and Jackie Lee, Jim Anderson, Tom & Pam Runyan, Wes and Pat Gaskill, Charles Townley, Dave Venable, Dennis Latimer, John Bufton, Javier & Patricia Alvillar, Bruce and Mandi Smaga, Skip Smith, Bill Ley, William Hanson, Greg and Courtney Blackman, Roger Donnelson, Laura Robertson, Debbie Tate, James Carlton, Carrie McDonald, Pat McLeod, Angela Hagen, Adrienne West, Julie Swift, Karen Highfill, Michael Johnson, Jack Britton, Tom Krajci, Stan and Joani Watson, Paul McSherry, Jim Worthan, Eric Pearson, Malina Pearson, Peter Kendall, Carl Wyatt, Stan and Ginger Hearne, Earle Neill, April Hearne, Rusty Roots, Nancy Slater, Lacinda & Rodger Walker, Earle Neill, Jim Goodwin, David Amidei, John Bennett, Janyce Chesnut, Rhonda Grant, Chris Milya, Carla Moore, Jackie and Larry Pryor, Dorian Ramirez, Charles Ramay, John and Carrie Snook, Aileen Duc, Mike and Marty Mills, Terry and Joann Means, Susan Booth, Cheryl Kaufman, Sara Sims, Guy Lutman, Hans Steinhoff, Herman Graffunder, Carol Stanfill, Kirk Cooper, Ann Davis, Steven G Henry, Sonnie Hill, Jean Ramsey, John Sarrels, Charlene Basham, Patti Howell, Waitt Family, Mario Romero, Craig and Dru Chapman, Hilda Gerardo Acuna, Jann Hunter, Don Stowe, Amy Parker-Morris, Leah Ross, Sally and Prentice Blanscett, Lyn Canham, Amy Dunlap, Linda Rawson, Renee Hays, Brian Risinger, Charles Day, Mark Tatum, Sam Coats, Brian and Stephanie Collins, Dixie Rogers, Cheri Hass, Laurel & John Walters/Cronin, David and Anne Marie Larsen, Dina Sennett, Summit Supply, Amy Felix, Barbara Pugh, Justin Damron, Dana Dunlap, Dennis Magill, Rod & Barbara Slaton, Diana Lehr, Lyn Canham, George Marshall, Rand Carlson, Andrea Ohare, Diana Lehr, Diane McMahon, Bob & Donna Shepherd, Glena Muncrief, Shelby Manford, Deborah Cole, Mike and Stacey Hyman, Linda Hamilton, Gail Overstreet, Andrew Colglazier, Julie and Eric Pearson, Terry Schul, Rand Carlson, Amy Coor, Suzannah Cox, Barbara and Bryan Johnson, Gina Sweeny, Lynn Owen, Judith Langlois, Diane Thomas, Laryssa Alvarez, Gina Sweeney, Lynn Owen, Brian Risinger, Craig Turner, Carl Wyatt, Betty Sheker, Carie Mckinney, Rebecca Barrows, Judith Langlois, Jim & Francis Curtis, Cheri Hass, Kurt Kochendarfer, Alexandra Carilli, Greg Switzer, J & S Blanchett, Jan Graffunder, Barbara Hoskins, Martha & Larry Dahl, Linda Meyer, Tom McLaughlin, Jessie Willett, Heidi Gibbons, Karen Highfill, Herman Graffunder, Michael Johnson, Anonymous, Cloudcroft Chamber of Commerce, Earle & Dixie Neill, Tracy Lockhart, Bill Sandusky, Sandra Barr, Pat Ray, Robert Mace, Mary Bott, Barbara Scheuter, Cynthia Buttram, Andra Sanders, Tod Taylor, Donna G Casey, Kathy Lee Alvoid, Valerie Stagaman, Nancy Penner, Gerardo Acuna, Marietta Crane, Randy Melton Electric, Michael London, Nikki Castle, Joan Nussbaum, Rachel Truex, Cheryl Puterbaugh, Mark Ferring, Lisa & Greg Spier, Kay Magill, Anne Spier, Mark Tatum, Jonathan Coker, Carl Milburn, Judy Gordinier, Glenn Edwards, Anonymous, John Sarrels, Kenna Darling.
Join them.
You can make a difference — all for the low cost of a sandwich a month.
Please support our local reporting and become a Cloudcroft Star today with your pledge.
Your contribution keeps us going.
Thank you so very much for your reporting, for this - for so many things that you all do. We are lucky to have the Cloudcroft Reader!!!