New Mexico Implements Statewide Fire Restrictions Amid Wildfire Risks
New Mexico forestry officials have announced comprehensive statewide fire restrictions to mitigate the risk of wildfires during an unusually hot and dry spring season. The restrictions, effective from April 6, 2026, prohibit activities such as smoking, fireworks, campfires, prescribed agricultural and debris burning, and flaring from oil and gas production on state lands. Exceptions to these restrictions may be granted on a case-by-case basis, contingent on favorable weather conditions or other mitigating factors. The order will remain in effect until the Energy Minerals and Natural Resources Department determines that conditions have improved and the wildfire threat has diminished. These state-level restrictions complement existing bans imposed by county officials in Rio Arriba, Guadalupe, and Catron, as well as higher-level restrictions by the U.S. Forest Service in the Cibola National Forest and Grasslands.