By Ryan Brandt

May 13, 2002 With wildfire risk reaching extreme levels, officials in New Mexico last week banned public use of the 1.6 million acre Santa Fe National Forest and backcountry of Bandelier National Monument in the Jemez Mountains. While praying for rain, outdoor enthusiasts in the state are forced to put aside their hiking boots, fishing gear, and mountain bikes as the bans mean no recreational use of the lands whatsoever.

The closures come on the heels of the human-started Dalton fire, which quickly burned over 800 acres of the Santa Fe National Forest early last week.

"We're at such a high risk because the fires are caused by people, and when they are the result of people, you need to reduce access to the lands," said Mary Zabinski, a fire information officer for the Southwest Coordination Center. "We try to work with the general public to educate them about fire prevention but arson is a whole 'nother ball game that just can't be foreseen."

New Mexico has seen such closures before—a similar ban was enacted two years ago—but this is the earliest-ever closure of the Santa Fe National Forest. Numerous state parks and preserves in the area have also closed.

While Bandelier's main attractions—developed campgrounds, interpretive trails, and facilities in Frijoles Canyon—remain open with fire restrictions in place, all backcountry areas of the park are now closed.

"We have really high winds and really low fuel moisture, and that's what creates extreme fire danger," said Bandelier's Lynne Dominy.

The 1.5-million acre Carson National Forest in the north—the only major piece of public land in New Mexico still open for recreation—may be the next area to close.

"We are in extreme fire danger right now and if these conditions keep up the way they are, we'd have to issue large area closures," said Carson's Benjamin Romero. "And if they persisted, we'd have to issue a complete closure. This is the driest it's been in 20 to 40 years."

Other national forests and parklands in the Southwest face closures if drought conditions persist. In southern Colorado, Mesa Verde National Park and Rio Grande National Forest have issued partial bans on open fires and smoking—one of the fist steps in the closure process.

"Our dry fuel moisture might as well be cardboard," said Rio Grande National Forest's Dario Archuleta.

The USDA Forest Service and the Department of the Interior recently appropriated an additional $8.5 million to fight forest fires due to the extreme conditions. "Drought conditions across the country are an indication that we could be in for a very tough fire season and we are ready," Interior Secretary Gale Norton said in a joint department press release. But the release also stated that even with the additional fire-fighting resources, "managers expect some fires will become large, costly and dangerous due to potentially severe burning conditions throughout the West."

With late spring lightning storms up next for New Mexico, the state is entering a critical period. Yet soon after the dry lightning storms comes the much welcomed monsoon season in early July.

"It's a mixed blessing," said Chuck Maxwell, fire weather program manager for the Southwest Coordination Center. "The lightning signals the beginning of the end because as soon as it starts you know you're on the downward slide to the monsoon season."

Until then, hikers, bikers, and other outdoor enthusiasts will have to find a new indoor passion or drive long distances to get their fix.

"Things can change really fast, but in the next ten days, I don't see any rain," said Maxwell. "To put it simply, it's looking really bleak."