ABQJOURNAL: Cibola National Forest Lifts Fire Restrictions Associated Press

The Cibola National Forest will lift all of its fire restrictions, officials announced today.

The central New Mexico forest had been in Stage III restrictions, but fire danger has decreased because of recent moisture and humidity received over much of the forest, officials said in a news release.

Starting Thursday, the restrictions will be terminated on the Sandia, Mountainair, Magdalena and Mount Taylor ranger districts as well as the Kiowa and Rita Blanca National Grasslands.

Campfires remain a concern for forest officials, who are asking the public to build campfires away from material that easily could ignite, keep the fires small and make sure they are out before leaving.

Around New Mexico, most state parks have lifted fire restrictions, but six parks still are enforcing restrictions imposed by local or federal agencies.

The parks do not permit open campfires but allow cooking or heating devices that use kerosene, white gas or propane in areas cleared of vegetation for at least 30 feet or that have a water source.

Those parks are Fenton Lake State Park near Jemez Springs, Navajo Lake State Park near Farmington, Ute Lake State Park near Tucumcari, Cimarron Canyon State Park near Cimarron, Sugarite Canyon State Park near Raton and Oasis State Park at Portales.