Fire restriction watch in state parks

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - The last thing anyone wants to see this summer is the forest going up in flames all from a careless mistake and officials say the conditions are prime.

"Right now, we still look pretty dry across much of New Mexico," says Dan Ware of the New Mexico Forestry. "Dry and windy weather is typical for early summer and that looks to continue through June."

Unfortunately, the bad timing of those conditions coincides with the time when many of us would like to be out and enjoying the forests but, don't worry, you may be in luck on this Memorial Day weekend.

"Right now we don't have any restrictions on public lands around New Mexico for the most part," says Ware. "At some New Mexico state parks, there may be some restrictions on camp fires versus grilling and so we recommend folks check ahead of time."

State restrictions and closures>>

If you do go out this weekend, you should treat your time in the forest as if there were restrictions on campfires and grilling. This is a crucial time to make sure even the smallest situations are avoided.

For example, it was exhaust from an all terrain vehicle that started the Track Fire near Raton in June 2011 and burned over 27,000 acres.

"If you need to pull over, pull over into a developed area that doesn't have any tall grass or weeds," adds Ware. "The small, simple, common sense things, that's what we need people to remember as they're heading out this weekend."