Yet another fire as of this afternoon.

[SheilaT]

Right now in Santa Fe I can see the smoke from two different fires: the Pacheco fire which started a week ago, and as of about three hours ago, a VERY large plume of smoke from what's being called Las Conchas fire.

And to think that fireworks are not yet being banned for the upcoming July 4th.

[Abq_Sarah]

1. Not banned where?

BLM and the National Forests have already placed restrictions as have most counties and towns.

[SheilaT]

2. If there's a ban in Santa Fe

I have not yet become aware of it.

[Abq_Sarah]

4. County wide as of April 15th

The city of Santa Fe is only allowing certain types to be used within city limits.

[oldhippydude]

3. looks like we got tents

full of fireworks all over town (Albuquerque)..must be selling lots of snakes and sparklers..

[Abq_Sarah]

5. They're selling everything that's legal

But that doesn't mean it's legal to use them during fire restrictions.

[SheilaT]

6. But there are no restrictions, at least not

so far, in Santa Fe.

The federal government has put restrictions in place on federal land, and it may be that Albuquerque has fireworks restrictions, but Santa Fe doesn't.

[Abq_Sarah]

7. Santa Fe

Already has a ban on "flying fireworks". Sparklers, snakes and smoke bombs are allowed. They've restricted the sale and use by type for years.

[SheilaT]

8. I was in Sam's Club on Sunday

(only accompanying someone else. I never shop there) and they had lots of fireworks for sale.

[oldhippydude]

9. they are cheapest scripts..

so i go there for that... those bags were full of fountains and such.. thats problematical

[SheilaT]

10. Also, in today's Santa Fe New Mexican,

there was a brief piece about people in Silver City, NM, protesting outside some big box store which is continuing to sell fireworks. So no, aside from bans on federal lands, it does not look as if fireworks are being sensibly banned this extremely dry summer.

Shall we start some kind of a betting pool about how many serious fires will be triggered this coming weekend?

[rabs]

11. We have a biggie in Lincoln County too

About six miles south of Hondo. As of Wednesday, 43,290 acres burned. Zero contined.

It's burning a private, BLM and Mescalero Reservation land. It's called the Donaldson fire, because it started on Sam Donaldson's ranch. Two fires caused by lighting early Tuesday merged into this big one.

No injuries, but five structures destroyed and 50 others threatened. State and local firefighters have been assisted by crews from California, Arizona, Idaho, Minnesota, Nevada and Wyoming.

Read more:

http://ruidosofreepress.com/view/full_story/14517603/article-Donaldson-Fire-now-more-than-43-000-acres?instance=topstory

-----------------------------

We were coming back yesterday from Roswell; heavy smoke in the Hondo area extending to Ruidoso. Heavy smoke today too.

[Abq_Sarah]

14. People are banned from using them

Not buying or possessing them.

Anyone who has paid even a minute of attention to what's going on in New Mexico knows this is NOT the year to toss firecrackers out in a grass field. Not only is it stupid, it's illegal. Fireworks use this year is severely restricted in some areas and outright banned in most of the state.

[SheilaT]

15. Unless I've missed something, fireworks are not

banned here in Santa Fe. Stores finally, FINALLY! pulled selling them. Our illustrious governor, who is willing to undo everything the previous governor did, doesn't have the guts to issue some kind of executive order banning the use of fireworks.

Yes, anyone who is paying any attention at all wouldn't purchase or use any form of fireworks this year, but apparently they're still selling them on the reservations. Do you really think those who are buying them will just not be bothered to set them off?

I understand that after the Cerro Grande fire eleven years ago a small fire was started near Los Alamos by, are you ready for this. kids setting off firecrackers.

[Abq_Sarah]

16. The governor can't issue an executive order

Only the legislature can change the state law. Unless the legislature bans the sale and possession of fireworks in the state, neither action is illegal. Counties and municipalities can ban the use of fireworks by issuing fire restrictions. They can set in place very heavy fines and criminal penalties but that's not going to stop everyone (including the assholes across the street from me) from doing what they damned well want. There is a certain type of person who is going to do what they want, laws or not. Those people are going to set off fireworks regardless of where they have to go to purchase them.

[oldhippydude]

18. actually

the Cerro Grande.. was a "controled burn" that got away

[SheilaT]

19. I know that. It was afterwards

that fireworks started another (small and quickly controlled) fire.

[BarbaRosa]

12. We had a small one in Arenas Valley Wed. afternoon.

while not real big, it was way to close. This one was a downed power line, an old cottenwood decided it was time to shed a big limb and zap we were knee deep in the hoopla.

I don't give a shit what the repugs say, I think firefighters are indeed special people. I've never said so many thank-yous in such a short amount of time in my life. And many of them are volunteers!

[rabs]

13. It's raining in Ruidoso

3:10 p.m.

Other parts of Lincoln Country also getting rain. Lots of thunder and lighting too.

If the showers go toward Hondo, they may help in the fight against the Donaldson Fire, which today was over 70,000 acres.

[mk2guy7355]

17. self-delete