Tijeras, NM, July 22, 2011 – Sandia Ranger District – District Ranger Cid Morgan announced today that the Sandia Ranger District is returning to Stage II fire restrictions on Saturday July 23, 2011, 8am. “The Sandia Ranger District has received enough rainfall to safely open the forest to visitors. We will continue to keep Stage II restrictions in place until we see additional rainfall within the forest. We thank all the people who have assisted in keeping the forest and surrounding communities safe from wildfire. “Said Cid Morgan District Ranger.

Sandia Ranger District Stage II fire restrictions includes: building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire, charcoal, coal, wood or stove fire; using explosives; operating chainsaws, welding or torches; smoking except within an enclosed vehicle; operating or using an internal or external combustion engine without a spark arresting device that is properly installed, maintained and in effective working order and driving motorized vehicles off Forest Service roads. All motorized (vehicle) trails remain closed to motorized vehicles.

Fire Management Officials will continue to monitor temperatures, humidity, precipitation and assess the dryness of the vegetation to watch trends and adjust restrictions as needed on the district.

For more information about current fire restrictions go to Cibola National Forest and Grasslands: http://www.fs.usda.gov/cibola

Useful Information:
REMINDER: When recreating please make sure you do not leave your food items unattended. Black Bears have a great sense of smell and memory. They get used to getting food from unattended picnic areas, become nuisance bears and then need to be relocated or euthanized. Once relocated their chance for survival is very low. For additional information on Fire Restriction and the Sandia Ranger District call 505-281-3304.