Fire Friday #185: Preparing for Wildfire Smoke with Clean Air Solutions

Learning to live with fire also means learning to live with smoke. Communities are often evacuated when flames directly threaten homes and personal safety. However, communities that are not evacuated but remain near active fires can experience significant smoke impacts and poor air quality.

Wildfire smoke is not good for anyone to breathe, but it poses especially serious health risks for vulnerable residents, including infants, older adults, and those with pre-existing conditions such as asthma or heart disease. In some cases, these individuals may need to temporarily leave the area until conditions improve. At the same time, there are important steps communities can take to become more “smoke-ready.” Being smoke-ready includes preparing to create clean indoor air at home or work, and ensuring access to community clean air spaces where people can find relief during heavy smoke events.

Below, you can learn more about home air filtration options, community clean air centers (including those currently available in New Mexico), and how smoke-ready community efforts have been expanded in other states.

This Fire Friday features:

Stay safe Santa Fe

Wildfire Smoke and Health

Wildfire smoke contains a mixture of harmful pollutants, including gases and particles released as materials burn. The smallest particles—known as PM2.5 (particulate matter less than 2.5 microns in diameter)—are the most concerning for human health. Because of their tiny size, they can be inhaled deep into the lungs, affect respiratory and cardiovascular function, and even enter the bloodstream, triggering inflammation throughout the body.

Certain groups are especially vulnerable to the effects of smoke, including children, pregnant individuals, older adults, people with heart or lung conditions, and those with higher exposure levels, such as outdoor workers. Even for otherwise healthy individuals, wildfire smoke is unsafe to breathe, and the longer the exposure, the greater the risk.

Common symptoms of smoke exposure include coughing, shortness of breath, irritated eyes, runny nose, sore throat, headaches, fatigue, and in some cases, irregular heartbeat.

While we can’t control when smoke arrives or how long it lingers, there are steps you can take to reduce exposure and protect your health:

  • Limit the intensity and duration of outdoor activities

  • Stay indoors with windows and doors closed, and create clean indoor air

  • Avoid adding pollution indoors. Do not burn candles or incense, avoid smoking, and limit activities like stove-top cooking and vacuuming during smoky conditions

 

Create Clean Indoor Air

One of the best ways to reduce the impact of smoke is by reducing the amount of smoke that enters your home or workplace and filtering harmful particles from the air.

Indoor forced air systems

If you have a central air conditioning system in your building, set it to re-circulate or close outdoor air intakes to avoid drawing in smoky outdoor air.  Also, keep the furnace fan on by uncoupling it from the thermostat for continuous cleaning

Additionally, upgrade the filter efficiency of the heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system. Use the highest filter your system can handle. A MERV 13 or higher filter is best, but MERV 11 and 12 will still help clean indoor air. Also, keep extra filters on hand and changing filters frequently as they get dirty during smoke events greatly improves indoor air quality.  If your air systems cannot use a better filter, use portable air cleaners or DIY filter to clean individual rooms.

Filter your air

Smaller portable air cleaners are a great way to provide clean air in the areas where you spend most of your time. Essentially these are filters with an attached fan that draws air through the filter and cleans it. These cleaners can help reduce indoor particle levels, provided the specific air cleaner is properly matched to the size of the indoor environment in which it is placed.

Purchasing a HEPA portable air cleaner or a filter with a MERV rating of 13 or higher will help remove PM 2.5 from indoor air. When selecting a portable filter, the other rating to pay attention to is CADR or Clean Air Delivery Rate. This refers to the volume of air that passes through the unit. A CADR of 200 means the unit provides 200 cubic feet of clean air per minute, and often this number is equated to the room size that it will effectively purify the air in. In a 300 sq foot room a filter with a rating of 200 CADR will cycle the air through the filter 4-5 times per hour. While any filter will provide clean air, those with lower CADRs will simply work more slowly.

While purchasing a portable air cleaner may cost around $100-$200, making your own box fan filter can be a less costly option to filter air and improve indoor air quality in a single room or designated space. 

DIY BOX FAN FILTER MATERIALS:

  • 1 – 20” Box Fan

  • 1 -  20” x 20” x 1" MERV 13 electrostatic air filter. Note: MERV 11 or 12 will work, just not as well.

  • Tape or bungee cord to hold the filter in place

ASSEMBLY:

  1. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to assemble the Box Fan.

  2. Place the filter on the back of the fan with the airflow arrow pointing towards the fan. When the fan is turned on it should pull air through the filter.

  3. Secure the filter with tape or a bungee. Use masking or duct tape. Write the date when the filter is first used on the filter or tape.

 

Face Masks

Only respirators such as N95s can filter out the fine particles in smoke. One-strap masks, paper surgical masks, or cloth masks and bandanas only filter out large particles and will not provide the filtration needed to protect you from smoke. If you must be outside, consider using an N95 or KN95 and make sure it seals close to your face. Masks should have two straps (one above the ear and one below) and should collapse as you breathe in, not letting air in on the sides to ensure they fit correctly.

View Facnm.org/smoke to view additional information and resources

Community Clean Air Centers

One great step to take to becoming a more smoke ready community is identifying and setting up locations in your community that have cleaner, filtered air where residents can go for respite from smoky conditions. This is particularly important for people without air conditioning on hot smoky days, when staying indoors with windows closed can be hazardous.

A community clean air center is a designated public space, such as a community center, library, or other gathering place, equipped with HEPA filtration systems to provide a safe indoor refuge during wildfire smoke events or prolonged periods of poor air quality. Establishing one involves: 

  1. Selecting a central, accessible location that community members already use and trust. 

  1. Equipping the space with portable HEPA air cleaners sized appropriately for the building’s dimensions. 

  1. Maintaining the center by replacing filters and ensuring equipment is functional and in operation during times of poor air quality. 

  1. Outreach and education so residents know when the center is open and how it supports their health. 

The following image includes criteria that the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) has in their Clean Air Center Resource Guide to consider when selecting a site to set up a clean air center:

Clean air shelters are different from the above mentioned clean air centers. Shelters are typically set up in response to emergencies and are often staffed by volunteers or emergency personnel. These shelters may operate 24/7 and are designed to provide immediate, short-term relief for large numbers of people during critical events. Clean air centers, on the other hand, rely on existing community facilities—such as community centers, libraries, or senior centers—that are equipped in advance with air filtration systems. Rather than being activated as emergency shelters, they operate within the facility’s normal hours and serve as accessible, day-use spaces where residents can go to reduce smoke exposure. These centers can also be valuable hubs for information, where residents can learn about current air quality conditions, health impacts of smoke, and steps they can take to protect themselves and their families.

Operational practices for clean air centers can vary by program. For example, under guidance used in Montana, filtration systems in clean air centers are typically activated when outdoor air quality reaches an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 150 (“Unhealthy”) and remains at that level for more than 24 hours. Filtration continues until indoor air quality improves and consistently falls below an AQI of 100 (“Moderate”).

Clean Air Centers in NM

FACNM, with support from the Fire Adapted Communities Learning Network via a grant from an anonymous donor, has partnered with local communities in northern New Mexico to establish clean air centers. Working with the Angel Fire Fire Department and the Village of Angel Fire, as well as Santa Clara Pueblo Forestry and the Santa Clara Pueblo Senior Center, FACNM has helped equip two facilities with high-capacity HEPA air filtration systems. These centers will serve as community resources during smoke events beginning spring 2026.

Angel Fire Community Center

The Angel Fire Community Center is now equipped with two high-capacity HEPA air filtration units and a PurpleAir monitor, which provides real-time air quality data. These upgrades are part of FACNM’s broader effort to support smoke-ready communities and provide safe indoor spaces during periods of poor air quality.

View live AQI from the PurpleAir monitor attached to the Angel Fire Community Center: US EPA PM2.5 by PurpleAir


Santa Clara Pueblo Senior Center

The Santa Clara Pueblo Senior Center has also been outfitted with two high-capacity HEPA air filtration units. Installation of a PurpleAir monitor is planned and will further enhance the center’s ability to track and respond to changing air quality conditions.

These clean air centers offer residents a safer place to go during heavy smoke events, particularly for those who may not have access to effective air filtration at home.

For communities without a designated clean air center, residents can seek out public spaces with good ventilation and filtration systems, such as libraries, community centers, senior centers, and movie theaters. It’s a good idea to identify these locations in advance so you know where to go when air quality worsens.

Community clean air center success’s in other states

California

California created a map in collaboration with local air quality districts, to provide information about the location and services offered at Clean Air Centers in local communities statewide.

This map provides key details for each clean air center, including hours of operation, capacity, and contact information. A website and/or phone number is provided for each Clean Air Center so users can check with local facilities to see if they are activated and open to the public. This map serves as a strong example of a coordinated, statewide effort to both establish clean air spaces and ensure California residents know how to access them during smoke events.

Montana

In 2025, Clean Air Resource Centers were established in Missoula and Ravalli Counties with support from the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) and the EPA. Four centers were created in Missoula County and three in Ravalli County. Each location is equipped with a PurpleAir sensor to monitor real-time indoor air quality, helping ensure these spaces provide effective protection during smoke events.

Montana DPHHS also designed toolkits to provide resources to emergency responders, health officials, school personnel and daycare providers to ensure community safety during a wildfire smoke event. All materials can be shared and rebranded with your organization.

View Toolkits here

Upcoming Opportunities

This webinar from the Southwest Fire Science Consortium will provide a review of the 2025 Southwest fire season, including trends, especially impactful individual incidents, and takeaways from the fires–and from our tactics and response. The presenters will also offer a 2026 fire season outlook based on the most up-to-date forecast from the NOAA predictive services.

Date and Time: Tuesday, May 19, 2026 at 11am AZ/12pm MT

Register Now
 

National Community Wildfire Preparedness Day - May 2

Every year on the first Saturday in May, people and organizations across the U.S. and Canada come together for a day of action to raise awareness and reduce wildfire risk in their communities. This Saturday, several communities across New Mexico are hosting Wildfire Prep Day events.

Check this map to find a registered event closest to you, or browse the flyers below for more details. Attend your local Prep Day to learn about effective wildfire mitigation practices, participate in fuels reduction activities, and connect with other engaged community members working to make a difference.

NM Wildland Urban Fire Summit (WUFS) 2026

Save the date for the New Mexico 2026 Wildland Urban Fire Summit on October 14-16 in Silver City, NM! Join fire professionals, land managers, community leaders, and community resilience specialists for three days of presentations, panels, and a field tour. A more detailed agenda will be released in the coming months. FACNM hopes to see you there!

 

Western State Fire Managers Health and Wellness Subcommittee Training

The Western States Fire Managers (WSFM) Health and Wellness Subcommittee is seeking health and wellness trainings to feature on its online training calendar. Priority areas include educational content on peer-to-peer support, Critical Incident Stress Management, and resources for first responders. 

Organizations and agencies offering training that benefits wildland firefighters and their families are encouraged to submit opportunities via email.

Fire Friday #182: the Confluence of Wildfire Prevention, Mitigation, and Evacuation Prep

Last Monday, New Mexico’s state forester enacted statewide fire restrictions prohibiting smoking, fireworks, campfires, and any prescribed, open, agricultural and/or debris burning on all non-municipal, non-federal, and non-Tribal lands statewide. This follows a suite of National Forest and other federal lands fire restrictions or closures in the Southwest. These restrictions, taken together, represent one aspect of wildfire preparedness: fire prevention. How do the other most common aspects - wildfire risk mitigation and evacuation planning and preparation - work in tandem with, or against, one another, and does emphasizing one approach work to the detriment of the others?

Today’s newsletter dives into new research that shows that folks who uptake one approach to wildfire adaptation tend to uptake others and discusses how to get over the initial barriers to engaging in wildfire preparation.

This Wildfire Wednesday features:

Stay safe, and stay fire adapted!
-Rachel

How Prevention, Mitigation, and Evacuation work together

Complementarity of fire preparedness actions

“Homeowners are being asked to be prepared to leave and evacuate safely, and they’re also asked to make changes on their property to withstand a wildfire event... If we ask people to do evacuation preparation and mitigation, is it possible that there will be tradeoffs? We didn’t know how people make decisions about evacuation preparedness in relation to mitigation actions” (RMRS, May 2026).

This excerpt from a new Science You Can Use publication from the USDA Rocky Mountain Research Station poses the question of whether there will be tradeoffs in resident fire preparedness actions if land managers and educators emphasize one proactive risk-reducing action - like evacuation preparation - over another - like risk mitigation via defensible space creation and home hardening. At a time when the number of people exposed to fires is growing and about half of Earth’s population resides in the wildland-urban interface, the need for locally-led, science-informed, multi-faceted, and grassroots fire preparedness is increasing. What researchers from WiRē found is that there is actually a positive feedback loop: homeowners who do more mitigation - and individuals who have more conversations about fire with their neighbors and fire professionals - are more prepared for evacuation. This is important, because completing evacuation preparation activities means lives may be saved.

This positive correlation is only one piece of the proactive puzzle; financial barriers, household beliefs on the efficacy of mitigation, and more continue to be major deterrents to risk mitigation actions. Effective wildfire management, as seen in the Fire Adapted Communities (FAC) framework, relies on combining mitigation with preparation (clear evacuation plans and alerts) and other parts of the FAC wheel for true fire preparedness. However, this research does suggest that residents who recognize the high risk of fire are more motivated to take all necessary precautions - in other words, if residents can be motivated to engage with fire preparedness in one way, they may be more likely to engage in multiple other ways, increasing their overall fire adaptation. . What does it all mean, taken together? Talking to your friends, neighbors, family, constituents, and community about fire adaptation - from prevention to risk mitigation to evacuation - matters, because the more that people are exposed to accurate and actionable fire preparation information, the more likely they are to take action.

The role of community planning

Since wildfires do not respect property lines or administrative boundaries, cooperation across landowners, government agencies, and jurisdictions is essential. Successful wildfire mitigation calls for collaborative planning and management where communities integrate various strategies – land-use planning, development regulations, building codes, and homeowner education – to live more safely amidst the ongoing threat of wildfires. Local government programs (like Community Wildfire Protection Plans) often incentivize both home mitigation and evacuation planning as a comprehensive package. Community preparation for fire and extreme event-related emergencies and potential evacuations is critical for ensuring community safety. Learn more about community emergency planning and the overlapping and complementary steps your community can take to be better prepared: North Coast recommendations and FAC Community Preparedness facilitation guide.

Upcoming Opportunites and Additional Resources

Webinars

NMSU “Learning to Live with Fire” webinar series

Fire has no bounds on a dry, windy, spring day in New Mexico, regardless of whether you live in urban or rural environments defined by forest, rangelands, or deserts. Join New Mexico State University Cooperative Extension on Thursdays for a lunch & learn webinar to be better prepared for wildland fire.

  • April 16, 12 - 1PM: Steps to safeguard your home, yard, and neighborhood.

  • April 23rd, 12 - 1PM:  Farm and ranch wildfire considerations.

RSVP here or on the website: Learning to Live with Fire

 

Post-Fire Assessment and Recovery training webinar series

The Washington DNR, Okanogan Conservation District and Washington State Conservation Commission Center for Technical Development (wactd.org) are offering a six-part series on post-fire assessment and recover for foresters and land managers. This series follows an early-April post-fire conference, After the Flames, hosted by the same organizations in Cle Elum, WA.

📅 Webinar Schedule:
April 22 – Post-Fire Hazard Assessments
April 29 – Using the LEAF Assessment Template
May 6 – Erosion Assessment & Mitigation
May 13 – Debris Management & Danger Trees
May 20 – Building a Recovery Funding Portfolio
May 27 – Pre-Fire Recovery Planning

Learn more and register.

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Cultivando Conservación Job Opportunity

Cultivando Conservación, a program run in partnership between the Forest Stewards Guild and Asekia Inc., is working to connect northern New Mexican landowners to networking and funding opportunities that promote conservation practices in four rural New Mexican communities Cuba, Cebolla, Grants, and Trampas.

The program is hiring part-time conservation ambassadors in each community to assist in connecting private landowners to funding opportunities that support conservation practices. The position will be focused on outreach, education, training, and community engagement.

If interested, apply here: Conservation Ambassador, Forest Stewards Guild - Forest Stewards Guild

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Educational videos for home hardening

The City of Boulder, Colorado, has created a set of brief videos on actions to make a home more wildfire resistant. Topics covered are the non-combustible zone (link), decks (link), fences (link) and vents (link) - with principles and examples of actions or materials for each.

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Tools for drought conditions

A warm winter across the West has reduced snowpack to record-low levels. This snow drought means less abundant fodder in rangelands and less streamflow in the waterways that shelter fish and give us drinking water, among other impacts. A recent special edition newsletter from the USDA Forest Service has a collection of resources, tools and fact sheets (including a fact sheet for managing for drought in the West) that may be useful following the warm and dry winter seen across much of the West.

View the Collection of Resources

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Resources for prescribed burning

The Forest Stewards Guild, with support from the Fire Learning Network and others, has released the report National Assessment of Certified Prescribed Burn Manager Programs. The assessment, which follows-up on a 2020 report and is based on interviews across 43 states, is intended to help states that are considering creating or updating these programs. It contains lessons and recommendations by region and scenario as well as additional resources for managers. A recording of a webinar on the report will be available on the Southwest Fire Science Consortium YouTube page in the coming days.

Read the Report

Oklahoma State University Extension, with support from the USDA, has developed a phone application for burn mangers and planners called Burn–Prescribed Fire Planner. It is now available for iPhones and iPads at the Apple Store (Android coming soon). The app helps fire practitioners monitor burn prescriptions and when conditions align with safe prescribed fire objectives by allowing users to enter multiple burn units then choose weather parameters for each burn. The app will notify users, up to seven days in advance, when weather conditions will be met for that burn. It can be used anywhere in the U.S., and burn units can be shared with others who have the app.

View the app

In the news: the High Country News article Why Intentional Fires Can Still Be Safe During This Dry Spring looks at some of the ways fire managers and cultural burners are getting important burning done ahead of wildfire season, in spite of widespread warm and dry drought conditions in the West. The article highlights how land managers are finding pockets of cool wet conditions, allowing them to safely reduce future fire risk. As a TNC Fire Program Manager says, “prescribed fires are all about the right place and the right time.”

Read the article

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Older PostWildfire Wednesday #181: Recapping Southwest Wildfire Awareness Week

Fire Friday #181: Recapping Southwest Wildfire Awareness Week

Happy Fire Friday, New Mexico!

Have you heard of Southwest Wildfire Awareness Week? This public awareness campaign, which has been running for over a decade, takes place the last week of March and highlights information and resources to help communities in the Southwest be aware of and prepare for the fire season ahead. Federal and State fire agencies in New Mexico and Arizona take part in the campaign by sharing information at public events and online or through social media. This year’s SW Wildfire Awareness campaign, which took place last week, followed the theme “Inside Out: Wildfire Preparedness Starts at Home” and focused on tools and suggestions for proactive community-based prevention. Today’s newsletter will review and recap some of the lessons and suggestions from SW Wildfire Awareness Week 2026.

This Fire Friday features:

 

Wildfire Awareness Week

Following a warm and dry winter across the West, wildfire season forecasts suggest that we are in for a long and active fire season with higher-than-normal potential for large wildfires in May and June due to dry vegetation and high fire danger conditions. “We’re heading into an exceptionally warm and dry wildfire season,” said EMNRD Acting Secretary Erin Taylor. “These extreme conditions call for extra precautions. We need everyone to take action to prevent wildfires from impacting their communities.” Facing this reality, the NM Forestry Division used Wildfire Awareness Week 2026 to urge homeowners to take steps to protect their properties and their insurance coverage before fire season peaks this summer (KRTN, 2026).

What is the aim of Wildfire Awareness Week?

“New Mexico gets warm and dry, and our fire season can often start before some other states. We want to remind people we are stepping into the warmer months and we have the windy season in April coming up. It’s a way to remind people of the things they can do to prepare their homes and properties to defend against wildfire. But also to remind people that humans are the cause of most wildfires. In New Mexico, four out of five wildfires are started by humans and the other one out of five are lightning-caused fires, which we mostly get during the monsoon season” (George Ducker, NM Forestry Division via the Santa Fe Reporter).

Key themes and focal areas for 2026:

  • Inside Out: Wildfire Preparedness Starts at Home: this year’s theme emphasized that fire prevention begins with actions taken in and around the home, working from the inside out to build individual resilience against fires.

  • Defensible space and home hardening: from simple tasks like cleaning gutters and removing dry leaves to larger projects like creating fuel breaks and home retrofitting with fire-resistant building materials, the campaign emphasized actions to be taken on private property.

  • Proactive community planning: expanding from the individual home (inside) to the wider communities in which we live (out), the campaign also provided tips and encouragement for neighbors to work together to identify risks and create evacuation plans before the highest-risk May and June fire season.

  • Prevention first - managing human-caused ignitions: fires that start by human-caused ignitions will, on average, be responsible for burning over half of the acres burned in a given year. A key component of wildfire preparedness is wildfire prevention - doing our part to make sure that they don’t start. This year’s campaign included targeted messaging on the three top causes of wildfires:

  1. Debris burning: as New Mexico’s #1 cause of unintentional wildfire ignitions, avoid open flames during high-risk, windy, and dry days. Always check your county and municipality’s websites before burning to see if your area is under a burn ban or fire weather advisory.

  2. Recreation: “fire is strongly linked to outdoor recreation in the United States. Recreational uses of fires, whether in designated campgrounds or the backcountry, include warmth, cooking, and fostering a comfortable atmosphere. However, through inattention, negligence, or bad luck, recreational fires sometimes ignite wildfires” (NWFSC, 2025). Target shooting, not properly extinguishing campfires (remember "Drown, Stir, Repeat"), fireworks, inappropriate ATV or dirt bike use, and smoking are all drivers of recreation-related human-caused ignitions. Fire awareness and safety are paramount while recreating during high fire risk times of the year; of 3,644 human caused ignitions (on NFS lands) from 1980 to 2015, 36% were within one mile of a recreation site and 91% were within a half mile of a road (Forest Stewards Guild, 2018).

  3. Sparks from equipment/vehicles: sparks from tools, such as chainsaws and metal grinders, and sparks from vehicles or transportation, such as hot tailpipes and chains dragging on the road, start fires. Avoid using spark-causing tools on high-risk days, always use a spark arrester, secure your tow chains, and avoiding driving over or parking on dry grass or brush.

Click through the photo gallery and watch the video below to see some of the lessons, tips, and tricks which came out of this year’s Wildfire Awareness campaign! Contributors include the New Mexico Forestry Division, Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management, Southwest Fire Science Consortium, and more.

 
 
 
 
 
 

Additional Resources

Smoke and public health

 
 

EPA: The Environmental Protection Agency has a new webpage with information about wildland fire smoke and public health impacts, along with answers to frequently asked questions, to help communities across the country prepare for, respond to and recover from wildland fire smoke events.

NMED: The New Mexico Environment Department also hosts a website with links to find information on air quality data and how to protect you and your family’s health when it is smoky. Visit their Wildfire and Prescribed Fire Smoke Resources webpage to browse topics such as Monitoring Data and Air Quality Information, Health Information, Smoke Forecasts, Fire Information, and Drought and Climate Information.

Funding opportunity: The Wildfire Smoke Preparedness in Community Building grants are intended to support activities that will reduce indoor exposure to pollutants in wildfire smoke and, in turn, reduce the public health burden of wildfire smoke exposure. Applications are due 4/15/26. Learn more: https://www.epa.gov/grants/wildfire-smoke-preparedness-community-buildings&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1775084697369665&usg=AOvVaw3QeJuCcxuphXeM4tz74Ifp.

This funding opportunity and many others may be found through FACNM’s funding library.

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Upcoming webinars

April 15 at 12pm: Nationwide Assessment of Certified Prescribed Burn Manager Programs
Certified Prescribed Burn Manager (CPBM) programs provide accessible and structured prescribed fire training in 24 states. This webinar from the Southwest Fire Science Consortium will provide an assessment of CPBM programs across the country based on interviews with representatives from 43 states. Those 43 states include states with existing CPBM programs, developing programs, and no programs. Register below to examine national trends, highlight shared challenges and innovative approaches, and offer recommendations for supporting the safe and effective use of prescribed fire through certification.

Register Now

This fact sheet from the Southwest Fire Science Consortium presents the collective experience of more than 250 wildlife and fire professionals, highlighting nine challenges—and some practical approaches for meeting them.

View the fact sheet
Explore other wildfire & fire resources

Climate change is reducing winter snowpack and advancing spring snowmelt across the western United States. Early snowmelt extends the fire season, enhancing opportunities for ignition and increasing fuel dryness, both of which contribute to greater burned areas. Early snowmelt is associated with earlier occurrences of large fires and greater annual area burned, and low snowpack is associated with more severe burn outcomes, including larger proportions of high severity fire. Overall, researchers found that low-snow winters with early snowmelt may prime forested watersheds to dry, burn, and experience high severity fire. Projected current and future warming, potentially accompanied by greater ENSO variability and extremes, points toward a future of reduced snowpack, earlier snowmelt, and increased area burned at high severity in forests where snowpack historically buffered fire risk, with attendant losses in forest carbon storage and disrupted hydrological function of forested watersheds.

Read the Full Article

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Fire restrictions in New Mexico

Due to elevated wildfire risk, the Santa Fe National Forest will implement Stage 1 Fire Restrictions forest-wide beginning Thursday, April 2, 2026, through September 30, 2026.  The decision to implement fire restrictions is based on various factors, including the availability of firefighting resources, current drought conditions, weather forecast, the time of year, and fuel moisture levels. Implementing fire restrictions can help prevent human-caused wildfires and protect public health and safety.  

Parts of the Cibola National Forest and Grasslands and other public lands across the state are also under Stage 1 or Stage 2 fire restrictions. Visit this interactive map to see the current restrictions in your area and learn about what they mean.

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Disaster mitigation funding opportunity

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has announced $1 billion to support critical infrastructure projects and help states mitigate impact of disasters. Eligible applicants include states, the District of Columbia, U.S. territories and federally recognized Tribal Nations. Eligible sub-applicants include local governments, communities, special districts and Tribal Nations applying through a state or territory. This Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) funding opportunity is designed to prioritize infrastructure resilience by funding construction projects that are ready to implement and incentivizing the adoption of the latest hazard-resistant building codes. Applicants with adequate capacity are most encouraged to apply; this funding opportunity is competitive and can be challenging to implement.

For this funding cycle, the available categories include:

  • $112 million for states and territories (up to $2 million federal cost share for each applicant).

  • $50 million Tribal Set-Aside (up to $2 million federal cost share for each applicant).

  • $56 million for State or Territory Building Code Plus-Up (up to $1 million federal cost share per applicant) and $25 million for Tribal Nation Building Code Plus-Up to carry out eligible building code adoption and enforcement activities.

  • $757 million for National Competition (up to $20 million federal cost share per sub-application).

The deadline to submit applications is July 23, 2026. Interested applicants and sub-applicants may review the Notice of Funding Opportunity on Grants.gov. For more information on the BRIC program, applicants should contact their FEMA Regional Office or visit www.fema.gov/grants/mitigation/learn/building-resilient-infrastructure-communities.

Stage 1 Fire Restrictions for Santa Fe National Forest

Due to elevated wildfire risk, the Santa Fe National Forest has implemented Stage 1 Fire Restrictions (Order # 03-10-00-26-03) forest-wide beginning Thursday, April 2, 2026, through September 30, 2026.   

The decision to implement fire restrictions is based on various factors, including the availability of firefighting resources, current drought conditions, weather forecast, the time of year, and fuel moisture levels. Implementing fire restrictions can help prevent human-caused wildfires and protect public health and safety.  

What is prohibited under Stage 1 Fire Restrictions?  

  • Building, maintaining, or using a fire, including charcoal and briquettes outside of a designated fire ring or grill provided by the Forest Service in a developed recreation area. Stoves, lanterns or heaters fueled by propane or other liquefied petroleum fuels may be used forest-wide in areas cleared of flammable materials within three feet of the device, if they meet manufacturer’s safety specifications and have on/off switches.   

  • Smoking is only allowed in enclosed vehicles or buildings and developed recreation sites.    

See the full Forest news release below:


Wildfire Wednesdays #179: Red Flag Warnings, Fire Restrictions, and Burn Bans Explained

Happy Wednesday Greater Santa Fe Fireshed Coalition!

When weather conditions turn hot, dry, and windy, the risk of a single spark igniting a wildfire increases dramatically. During these periods of elevated fire danger, fire professionals and land management agencies rely on several tools to inform the public about the risk and outline actions that can help prevent human-caused fires. Terms like Red Flag Warning, stage restrictions, and burn bans are being used more frequently as prolonged drought, dry fuels, and extreme weather become more common. Earlier this month, parts of the Cibola National Forest and National Grasslands implemented Stage II fire restrictions, highlighting how quickly conditions can shift across the region. While these terms are often used together, they serve different purposes.

Below, we break down what each designation means, how they are determined, and the types of restrictions or precautions that may accompany each notice. By knowing why these measures are implemented, communities can make safer decisions, follow local regulations, and help reduce the risk of human-caused wildfires during periods of elevated fire danger.

This Wildfire Wednesday features:

All the best,
Megan

Red Flag Warnings

What is a Red Flag Warning?

The origin of the name, Red Flag Warning, is a literal one, according to Tamara Wall of the Desert Research Institute: “If there was… high fire danger, local fire stations would go and run a red flag up the flagpole. It was a very visual, kind of pre-mass communications way to signal to people in the area that it was a high-danger day” (NPR, 4/14/23).

According to the National Weather Service (NWS), which issues these alerts in conjunction with local and state agencies, a Red Flag Warning is part of a weather forecast which indicates a local increase in fire danger risk in the next 12 to 24 hours. This increased risk is due to a combination of critical fuel conditions and critical weather conditions (warm temperatures, very low humidities, and strong winds). This means that if a wildfire starts, the conditions are right for it to spread rapidly and be difficult to contain.

This combination of 1. low relative humidity (RH), 2. strong surface wind, 3. unstable air (an incoming or outgoing storm system that creates a significant temperature differential between the land surface and lower atmosphere), and 4. drought creates critical fire weather (NWCG, Critical Fire Weather). When it comes to issuing a Red Flag Warning, primary criteria include relative humidity of 15% or less combined with sustained surface winds, or frequent gusts, of 25 mph or greater. Both conditions must occur simultaneously for at least 3 hours out of a 12-hour period, according to the National Weather Service. Meteorologists also consider how all forecasted weather elements combine to create hazardous conditions (e.g. moderate humidity combined with high temperatures and high winds), even if they don’t fit the humidity and wind criteria individually.

When you see a Red Flag Warning, it means that critical fire weather is currently or will soon be occurring. Red Flag Warnings differ in timing from a fire weather watch, which is a longer-term forecast that warns of the possible development of Red Flag conditions in the next 72 hours. Fire Weather Watches may be issued with meteorologists forecasting up to 8 days in advance, whereas Red Flag Warnings are only issued when the critical fire weather conditions meeting the criteria for these Warnings are expected to begin in the next 12-24 hours.

The alert announcing a Red Flag Warning, whether online, on the news, or on your weather app, will usually indicate for how long the Red Flag Warning is forecasted to last. Fire management personnel take Red Flag Warnings into account and may respond by changing staffing numbers or preemptively moving resources into a certain region to be prepared for a potential ignition. During extended periods of high risk, local authorities may consider policy decisions like banning campfires or closing specific areas.

How to Respond

Adjust your behaviors accordingly to avoid creating a spark that could ignite a larger fire.

  • DO NOT burn debris piles.

  • If you are allowed to burn in burn barrels in your area, cover them with a weighted metal cover.

  • DO NOT throw cigarettes or matches on the ground or out of a moving vehicle.

  • If outdoor fires are allowed, make sure to extinguish them properly. Drown fires and charcoal with plenty of water and stir with a shovel to make sure everything is cold to the touch with bare skin.

    • Never leave a fire or barbeque unattended. Sparks or embers can blow into leaves or grass, ignite a fire, and quickly spread.

  • Avoid parking a recently driven vehicle on dry grass or other areas with vegetative cover.

  • Ensure that no chains or hanging metal are dragging from your vehicle or tow-behind trailer which could cause a spark.

Fire Restrictions

What are fire restrictions?

In the U.S., fire stage restrictions are a set of regulations that come in three tiers to limit activities and possibly even access to segments of public land (e.g., a national forest or ranger district) during periods of high fire risk. Fire restrictions are put in place by land managers to reduce the risk of human-caused wildfire ignitions during periods of high fire danger and severe weather conditions. The decision to implement fire restrictions is based on various factors, including the availability of firefighting resources, current drought conditions, weather forecast, and fuel moisture levels. On national forests, managers may consider implementing restrictions if at least three of the following conditions are present: (1) 1,000 hour fuel content is in the 90th percentile or above; (2) three-day mean energy release component (a measure within the NFDRS that determines potential heat that could be released if fuel was burned, indicating a fire might be hotter and harder to suppress) is at the 90th percentile or above on the forest or district’s dominant fuel type , (3) live fuel moisture content is 75% or less, (4) wildland fires are impacting available suppression resource capacity; (5) the area is receiving a high occurrence of wildland fire, and (6) adverse fire weather is predicted to continue (NIFC, 2021).

Managers often coordinate with state, county, and federal partners to implement fire restrictions, but because different agencies manage different lands, restrictions may not always align across boundaries. For example, a national forest may be under restrictions while nearby county or municipal lands are not. It is worthy of noting, different agencies and entities may also use different criteria or require different approval processes to implement stage restrictions, so visitors should always check the rules for the specific area they plan to visit.

Below are the three stages of fire restrictions and the common prohibited activities initiated by these restrictions on federal lands. Local variations on prohibited activities may exist.

Stage 1

Stage 1 fire restrictions reduce wildfire risk while allowing limited recreation.

Typically prohibited (unless otherwise specified):

  • Building, maintaining, attending, or using campfires, charcoal grills, or other open fires except in designated, developed recreation sites

  • Smoking, except inside an enclosed vehicle or building, within a developed recreation site, or in an area at least three feet in diameter that is cleared of all flammable materials

  • Operating chainsaws or similar equipment without a USDA- or SAE-approved spark arrester

  • Welding or using acetylene torches or other open-flame devices outside of cleared areas (usually at least 10 feet in radius)

  • Discharging fireworks

Generally allowed:
Portable stoves, lanterns, and heaters fueled by propane or other liquefied petroleum fuels, provided they are used in cleared areas and meet manufacturer safety specifications with an on/off switch.

Stage 2

Stage 2 fire restrictions further limit ignition sources during very high fire danger.

Lincoln National Forest Stage 2 Fire Restrictions - May 2025

Typically prohibited (unless otherwise specified):

All campfires, charcoal grills, and open fires on federal lands

  • Smoking, except in an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site, or in a cleared, nonflammable area

  • Discharging fireworks or using explosives

  • Operating motor vehicles off designated roads (except in developed parking areas or trailheads)

  • Operating equipment powered by internal combustion engines (such as chainsaws) without a spark arrester, or using equipment that produces open flames (e.g., welding); some activities may be restricted to specific hours

Generally allowed:
Portable stoves and lanterns using gas, jellied petroleum, or pressurized liquid fuel, as well as fully enclosed wood-burning stoves with proper spark arrester screens.

Stage 3

While the stage restriction system is used for both public and private lands depending on the authorizing entity, stage 3 restrictions are only used on public lands. Stage 3 restrictions involve full closure of a forest or designated area. During a closure:

  • All roads, trails, and access points may be closed

  • Public entry and recreation are prohibited

  • All activities, regardless of type, are suspended until conditions improve

These closures are implemented only when fire danger is extreme and continued public access would pose significant safety risks or hinder firefighting operations.

Southwest Area Fire Restrictions Interactive Map

New Mexico Forestry Division put together a dashboard to provide the public with a real-time map showing current fire restrictions on public lands in the Southwest. Map data is compiled from various sources and mostly displays federal and state lands, with county restrictions reflected when provided. You should contact your local fire department or government agency for the latest fire restriction information.

Fines and Penalties

Once fire restrictions are in effect, violation of prohibited activities may result in citations, fines, or criminal charges. It is important to not however, that penalties may vary depending on the agency and jurisdiction enforcing the restrictions.

On lands managed by the U.S. Forest Service, violating stage restrictions is generally considered a misdemeanor. Penalties include a fine of up to $5,000, imprisonment for up to six months, or both.

Local jurisdictions in New Mexico may impose different penalties. For example, on county-managed lands in Los Alamos County, a person found in violation of fire restrictions may receive a written citation and face criminal penalties, but no explicit fine amount is listed in their order. In contrast, within the City of Albuquerque, violations of fire restrictions may be punishable by a fine of up to $500, imprisonment for up to 90 days, or both.

Burn Bans

Burn bans are another tool agencies and fire administrators use to prevent wildfires and protect public safety during dry weather and high-fire risk conditions. Burn bans, also known as open burning restrictions, are temporary regulations that limit or prohibit outdoor burning activities such as campfires, bonfires, burning yard waste, agricultural burns, and the use of fireworks. Depending on the severity of conditions, some bans may still allow certain low-risk activities, like cooking with propane grills or using enclosed stoves, while stricter bans prohibit nearly all open flames. Essentially, a burn ban means that outdoor burning is restricted or prohibited within a designated area to reduce the risk of accidental fires spreading.

Burn bans are typically enacted due to factors like drought, low humidity, dry vegetation, high winds, and elevated temperatures, all of which significantly increase wildfire potential. These restrictions are usually issued by local or county governments, as seen in Colfax County, which recently issued a burn ban placing several fire districts under restriction. They are temporary and remain in effect until weather conditions improve and fire danger decreases. Public notices, official county websites, and local fire agencies typically provide updates on current burn ban status, exemptions, and enforcement details.

Additional Resources and Upcoming Opportunities

New Mexico Fire Adapted Funding Library

Did you know there’s a dedicated funding library created specifically for New Mexico community leaders, landowners, and wildfire practitioners? The New Mexico Fire Adapted Funding Library helps users quickly identify potential funding sources for wildfire adaptation, risk reduction, and post-fire recovery efforts.

The library features funding opportunities, direct links for additional details, and a sortable feature that allows you to filter by eligibility type. There are currently 12 open funding opportunities accepting applications, and the database is updated regularly as new programs become available.

View the library
 

As Southwest Wildfire Awareness Week (March 23–27) and National Wildfire Preparedness Day (May 2) approach, community leaders and fire practitioners are gearing up to host events and create meaningful opportunities to engage their communities. The Oregon State University Extension Fire Program has developed a helpful primer focused on engaging adult community members at the local level in wildfire preparedness efforts. The guide offers practical strategies for planning inclusive engagement activities, tailoring outreach to different adult learning styles, and incorporating trauma-informed approaches to better support the whole community.

For those organizing preparedness events this spring, this resource provides thoughtful, research-based guidance to strengthen outreach and impact!

View the Primer
The GSFFC is a coalition of public and private organizations. The GSFFC is not a subdivision of the State of New Mexico, as defined in the state’s Open Meetings Act, §§ 10-15-1 to 10-15-4 NMSA 1978. Although federal agencies participate in the GSFFC, the Coalition is not a federal advisory board and was not created by a federal agency, as defined by the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), 5.U.S.C. app. 2, §§ 1 to 16 (2012). The GSFFC operates informally to support its partners, and is not incorporated as a non-profit, 501(C)(3), partnership, or other legal status.