Fire

U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, Western Democrats Press U.S. Forest Service On Wildfire Season Plans Amid COVID-19

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U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich

U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) joined U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and a group of Western senators in seeking answers on the planning efforts of the U.S. Forest Service to protect communities and firefighters heading into the upcoming 2020 wildfire season amid the COVID-19 crisis.

“The impacts of the novel coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19), combined with high levels of drought throughout the West, will create unprecedented wildland firefighting challenges and may hurt numerous rural areas across the country, Read More

LAFD Assists Women, Kids Near River Below Red Dot Trail

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Scene late this afternoon of Los Alamos Firefighters responding to a call for help from two women and their children near the river below the Red Dot Trail in White Rock. Photo by Bonnie Gordon/ladailypost.com

Classic Air Medical was enlisted to fly the women and children out and EMS was waiting to check them over and ensure they were alright before they left with family members. Photo by Bonnie Gordon/ladailypost.com

By CAROL A. CLARK
Los Alamos Daily Post
caclark@ladailypost.com

Los Alamos County Firefighters responded to a distress call about 3 p.m. today from rafters on the river near the Read More

Residents Asked Not To Park At Fire Station 4 When Using Los Alamos County Golf Course As Open Space

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COUNTY News:

Residents using the Los Alamos County Golf Course as open space are asked to refrain from parking at Fire Station 4 on Diamond Drive near the golf course.

Parking is reserved for LAFD personnel. During the COVID-19 pandemic, this is especially problematic if the station’s parking lot fills with cars, as LAFD personnel are following social distancing recommendations.

Station 4 personnel will be placing signs out today indicating the parking lot is for LAFD personnel only, and also may place some traffic cones to block some of the spaces to deter motorists from parking there.

With Read More

Chief Troy Hughes: Fire Season Is Here … Are You Ready?

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Los Alamos Fire Chief Troy Hughes

LAFD News:

Fire Chief addresses concerns over rapidly developing dry, windy conditions; urges residents to be prepared for an active fire season in Los Alamos

Los Alamos Fire Chief Troy Hughes said today that the 2020 fire season is shaping up to be active for wildfires to occur in urban-wildland interface communities across Northern New Mexico.

“As residents have probably noticed, we’ve had many windy days after a dry winter with little snowfall,” Hughes said, adding that the fire department has been increasing resources and taking active steps this year

Read More

Community Creates Special Day For Porter, 100 & Cox, 101

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Loring Cox turned 101 years old Sunday and waves to family, friends and members of the police and fire departments, County and LARSO staff who drove by his Los Alamos home Monday to wish him a happy birthday. Photo by Bernadette Lauritzen/LARSO

Marjorie Porter, center, celebrates her 100th birthday Monday with a parade of well wishers driving past her home. Photo by Bernadette Lauritzen/LARSO

A parade of cars line up Monday to wish Marjorie Porter a happy 100th birthday and Loring Cox a happy 101 birthday. Photo by Bernadette Lauritzen/LARSO

By Bernadette Lauritzen
Executive Director
LARSO Read More

SFNF: Bad Behavior On The Santa Fe National Forest – Too Many Visitors Ignore Campfire Ban, Locked Toilets

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SFNF News:

SANTA FE — Despite the campfire ban that went into effect April 15 for all five national forests in New Mexico, patrols on the Santa Fe ­­National Forest (SFNF) last weekend found illegal campfires from the Jemez Mountains to Pecos Canyon.

Too many of those campfires were not properly extinguished, and an abandoned campfire jumped the fire ring and started a wildfire that required firefighter response.

Law enforcement and recreation patrols reported additional examples of visitor misuse, including garbage left behind and piles of human waste outside locked toilet facilities. Read More

Los Alamos County Fire Marshal Comments On Sky Lantern Prohibitions: Not permitted For Celebrations

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LAFD News:

Los Alamos County Fire Marshal Wendy Servey commented this morning on plans surfacing within social media and other forums that Los Alamos residents may be planning to mark upcoming special dates in May, such as high school graduation, with lighting and launching sky lanterns.  

“While I appreciate the creativity that our residents are using to develop possible options to celebrate these important milestones during the stay-at-home order, it’s also my responsibility to see that such activities occur in a safe manner.” Servey said. “Most residents may not know that our Fire Code Read More

Forest Service Takes Steps To Reduce Human-Caused Wildfire During Pandemic … No Campfires April 15-June 30

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SANTA FE – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service, Southwestern Region today enacted a campfire restriction to protect the health and safety of employees and communities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

From April 15 through June 30, campfires are prohibited on all five national forests in New Mexico and national grasslands on the Cibola in Oklahoma and Texas.

Forest Service officials are taking necessary steps to ensure first responders are available to safely respond to and manage incidents. This campfire restriction will prevent the drawdown of fire and medical resources Read More

County Asks Community For Help Supplying Face Coverings To Employees Working In Field To Protect Against COVID-19

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COUNTY News:

Los Alamos County Emergency Manager Beverley Simpson has called upon the community – especially those with any kind of sewing and handiwork skills – to supply County employees with face coverings, as suggested by the Centers for Disease Control for those working out and about in public places.

“Although our Procurement Officer has placed orders for these items, lead times are nearly three weeks to receive any shipments, due to the backlog being experienced across the nation,” Simpson said, adding that even though the guidance from the CDC is optional, the County is encouraging Read More

Los Alamos Fire Marshal Comments On Maximum Occupancy Requirements Under Amended Public Health Order

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COUNTY News:

Effective this morning, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s amended public health order restricting essential business operations, i.e. grocery stores, limits the number of individuals within retail space to 20 percent or less of maximum occupancy.

In addition, hotels, motels, and other places of lodging such as RV Parks shall operate at 25 percent of maximum occupancy.

This order requires business owners and store managers alike to police the number of occupants in their stores.

The Los Alamos Fire Marshal’s Office would like to remind owners and managers of certain restrictions Read More