Boat patrol nabs barbeque in Bosque

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) - Some people are not getting the message about the fire danger in the Bosque.

Albuquerque Police arrested two people for camping in the bone dry brush late Thursday and Friday.

Monday, their air boat patrols, which just launched, found more disturbing evidence of fresh campfires.

Officers found a campsite in an island on the river about a mile North of I-25.

"There's a barbeque grill, there's evidence of an actual ground fire which is the most dangerous part about this. There were at least one, probably two fires going at a time," explained Officer Jake Gassel.

The fresh fire pit is a sight he dreads.

"If this was burning when the winds picked up, like they do in the evenings, then it will easily catch anything that blows by on fire too," he said.

Police believe the ashes are fresh because they did not see the fire when they were out on the river banks this weekend.

That's when police discovered a different campsite in the Bosque that they say was left behind by Michael Kerns, 36.

They also arrested David Hall, 54, for camping on the East bank South of Rio Bravo. There were lighters and cigarette butts around his camp.

Both face criminal trespassing charges. Police believe they are homeless.

It's not just APD patrolling the river, Bernalillo County Fire crews are on the water too. Both teams are trying to keep the Bosque open by keeping people from straying off the trails.

"Every county besides Bernalillo County that has river running through it in the state is totally closed off, and Bernalillo County is the only county in the state where people can come out and enjoy the river still. We are doing everything we can to try to keep it the river open," said Officer Gassel.

Bosques in Socorro, Valencia and Sandoval Counties are closed.

People must stay on paved trails and dirt paths on the river in Bernalillo County. All burning is prohibited. That includes cigarettes.