Sign up for CODE RED (REVERSE 911) - go to www.sandovalcounty.com – system used to telephone residents about emergencies such as evacuation notices, road closures and neighborhood emergencies.
Fire Potential/weather/restrictions
Southwest area 7 day Significant Fire Potential: http://psgeodata.fs.fed.us/7day/action/forecast/6
Accurate fire and restriction information for whole state: www.nmfireinfo.com
Southwest Fire Restriction Stages: www.firerestrictions.us
Smoke density health effects: https://nmtracking.org/en/environ_exposure/fire-and-smoke/
Santa Fe National Forest Fire Restrictions and Closures: www.firerestrictions.us/nm
National Weather Service, Albuquerque Office: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/abq/
Fire Permits
If a fire is 3'x3'x3' or less (basically a campfire) no permit is needed but common sense needs to be employed such as having a water source nearby, clearing fuels from the fire area (around and above), winds less than 5-7 mph, fire in a fire ring, and putting the fire dead out- cold to the touch.
If larger than that, call Chief Lee Taylor’s cell phone (505)269-6435 for a permit, He will visit the site where the burning will take place to make an assessment.
Community Resources and information:
Sandoval County information for burn information/permits: 1-800-898-2876
Jemez District FS (575)829-3535
Community log splitter - call Howard Fegan (575)829-3031
Thompson Ridge slash pit – Currently open Directions: Hwy 4 and mm 27, north on 105 for 1/10 of mile, north on 106 for 4 ½ miles to slash pit.
Curbside Chipping - contact Howard Fegan 575-829-3031, ($40.00/hour) for chipping
Property Owners Associations - Sierra Los Pinos: http://www.slppoa.org
La Cueva Volunteer Fire Department
meetings first Wed of each month at 7:30pm at LCVFD Station1. Lee Taylor, Chief at lacuevafire@windstream.net. Office 575-829-3355 or cell 505-269-6435
Defensible space
go to www.firewise.org, find "homeowners" icon for info on how to reduce ignition hazards and how simple changes in landscape and home improvements can reduce wildfire threat.
Ready Set Go
Wildfire action planning. Prepare your home, your family and leave early.
Go to www.readysetgooc.org
Next look at http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=feMlaars9kc#!
To Thin Or Not to Thin…..
Creating defensible space around the home and thinning the property to a healthier, more natural tree density reduces risk of wildfire destroying your home.
Zone 1
(1-15 feet from your home) Remove all standing trees within 15 feet of home. Do not stack firewood in this zone. All dead and down woody material removed. All pine needles raked and removed. All slash, chips removed from this area (use decorative stone). Tree stumps should be less than 12 inches in diameter.
Zone 2
(15-100 feet from your home) There should be 15-20 feet between tree crowns. If trees are clumped, there should be 15-20 feet cleared around crowns of clumps. Tree stumps should be less than 12 inches in diameter. Masticated material should be no more than 4 inches deep. Chips should be no more than 2 inches deep, and should not be spread around the drip line of the remaining trees. All ladder fuels should be removed. All firewood piles and saw mill logs should be removed or piled at least 30 feet away from your home, either uphill or at the same elevation as your home. Prune trees 15 feet up, but no more than 1/3 of the crown.
Selection criteria for thinning: In deciding which trees will be selected on the basis of their position in the canopy, vigor, diameter and external or internal defects, consider the following items as cause for removal: insect infestation, disease, position in canopy (suppressed or intermediate trees), broken or dead tops, crowns touching, forked tops, poor vigor, poor crowns, mechanical damage, excessive taper, and “wolf” trees with numerous big limbs.
Ann Cooke (Firewise Community President) has graciously offered to meet with residents and offer landscaping/thinning advice. You can contact her at: abcooke@q.com