New Mexico · Burn Bans

Before

STATEWIDE RESTRICTIONS ARE IN EFFECT ON STATE-JURISDICTION LAND. On April 6, 2026 the State Forester enacted fire restrictions covering all non-federal, non-Tribal and non-municipal land in New Mexico, and EMNRD Forestry states they remain in place until rescinded; no rescission has been posted on that page. Prohibited: smoking, fireworks, campfires, and prescribed, open, agricultural or debris burning, plus flaring of gas related to oil and gas production. Limited exceptions apply in specific cases, and the State Forester may allow more on written request. EMNRD warns that the interagency fire-restrictions map does NOT show this statewide order, so a map that looks clear for your county does not mean state land is open. On FEDERAL land, restrictions are set per unit, and the national forests have now lifted their seasonal orders: the Cibola National Forest lifted Stage 1 on the Kiowa and Rita Blanca National Grasslands (Forest Order 03-03-07-26-17) effective September 25, 2026, after terminating Stage 1 on the Mountainair and Sandia Ranger Districts effective September 18, 2026. The Lincoln National Forest states it is not currently in restrictions, and the Carson, Gila and Santa Fe National Forests posted no Stage 1 or Stage 2 order on their alert pages at LawLert's last check of those pages, though each keeps separate area and road closures. Year-round on federal land in New Mexico: no fireworks, exploding targets or other incendiary devices, and chainsaws and off-highway vehicles need an approved spark arrester. Counties and municipalities set their own bans and are not shown on the interagency map either — restrictions are set unit by unit, so confirm for the exact land you are standing on before lighting anything.

Now

New Mexico's statewide fire restrictions on state-jurisdiction land have been LIFTED. State Forester Order 2026-02 rescinds the restrictions imposed on April 6, 2026 for all non-federal, non-Tribal and non-municipal land, effective 8:00 a.m. Monday, September 28, 2026 (signed September 24, 2026), citing recent precipitation; EMNRD Forestry states it may reinstate restrictions if fire danger returns. That statewide order no longer bars campfires, smoking, fireworks or open, agricultural and debris burning on state-jurisdiction land, but other rules still apply. LOCAL RESTRICTIONS REMAIN: counties and municipalities set their own, and the Village of Ruidoso states it remains under its Level I fire restrictions inside Village limits. On FEDERAL land, restrictions are set per unit: the Cibola National Forest lifted Stage 1 on the Kiowa and Rita Blanca National Grasslands (Forest Order 03-03-07-26-17) effective September 25, 2026, after terminating Stage 1 on the Mountainair and Sandia Ranger Districts effective September 18, 2026, and the Carson, Gila, Lincoln and Santa Fe National Forests post no Stage 1 or Stage 2 order on their alert pages, though each keeps separate area and road closures. Year-round on federal land in New Mexico: no fireworks, exploding targets or other incendiary devices, and chainsaws and off-highway vehicles need an approved spark arrester. Restrictions are set unit by unit and the interagency map does not show every local order, so confirm for the exact land you are standing on before lighting anything.