NEW MEXICO’S FIRE SEASON IS TRADITIONALLY IN THE SPRING AND SUMMER. BUT STATE FORESTER DONALD GRIEGO TELLS NEWSRADIO KKOB FIRES CAN BREAK OUT AT ANY TIME…EVEN IN DECEMBER. HE SAYS WE HAVE HISTORICALLY SEEN LARGE FIRE ACTIVITY IN EASTERN NEW MEXICO. HE SAYS THERE’S AN ABUNDANT AMOUNT OF GRASSES IN THAT AREA, WHICH ARE CONSIDERED FINE FUELS AND CAN BURN ANY TIME OF THE YEAR.
LAST YEAR, 620 WILDFIRES BURNED WELL OVER 100-THOUSAND ACRES OF STATE AND PRIVATE LAND IN NEW MEXICO. MORE THAN HALF WERE HUMAN-CAUSED…AND ABOUT FOUR IN TEN WERE SPARKED BY LIGHTNING.
