Fire restrictions imposed statewide

Wildfire in Sandias 50% contained; 40 acres scorched

As firefighters tackled the Piedra Fire in the north Sandia Mountains on Friday, state agencies announced fire restrictions on every New Mexico county aimed at preventing other such fires from igniting.

The Piedra Fire was 50 percent contained as of Friday afternoon and had consumed about 40 acres. Just under 100 firefighters are using helicopters and on-the-ground tactics to fully extinguish it, and the Piedra Lisa trail is closed on both north and south ends.

“It’s going out,” said Sandia Ranger District spokeswoman Karen Takai. “It’s doing exactly what we want it to do.”

Still under investigation is how the fire started, and investigators are also combing through the charred remains of five much-smaller brush fires that someone started Thursday evening in the Sandia foothills, Takai said.

The Piedra Fire lost steam early Friday as temperatures dropped, winds slowed and the

fire burned up most of its “heavy fuels,” like beetle-damaged ponderosa pines and firs. Firefighters established a perimeter of flame retardant Thursday through the use of single-engine planes.

Also on Friday, the state natural resources department imposed strict fire restrictions on all state lands across New Mexico. Those restrictions, citing “high fire danger across the state,” limit smoking, campfires and other open fires.

The restrictions go into effect Wednesday at 8 a.m.

Campfires are prohibited unless the device uses kerosene, white gas or propane in an “improved” camping area.

Smoking isn’t allowed except in buildings and cars with ashtrays, or while driving on paved or surfaced roads or in an area cleared of brush.