UPDATED at 1:01pm Saturday: The Ute Park Fire now has consumed 27,300 acres! Zero containment!
UPDATED at 2:52pm Friday: Ute Park Fire has burned 16,500 acres
UPDATED at 10:53am Friday:
Ute Park Fire grows to 8,000 acres, forces mandatory evacuations
KOB TV Report COLFAX COUNTY, N.M. – A wildfire that sparked Thursday afternoon in northern New Mexico, has prompted evacuations and caused a large amount of smoke to billow into the sky
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The Buzzard Fire in Catron County is now at over 20,000 acres. I am waiting for an update on that fire. Now we have the Ute Park Fire, near Angel Fire. In just a few hours the Ute Park Fire has raged from 1,000 to nearly 5,000 acres.
We are in bad shape here in New Mexico. We need to seek the face of our Lord, and pray. Our rivers, lakes and creeks are starting to dry up in many areas. In Catron County ranchers are concerned that they may have to start selling off their cattle. They need hay! I pray the state will jump in and help.
Here is the latest on the Ute Fire ABQ Journal Report
The New York Times takes a good look at the Rio Grande River…..it is drying up. I plead with the people of God to pay attention to what is going on around us. We need to be on our knees praying to our Father for rain. I pray for a time of fasting and prayer here in New Mexico.
Let us pray as a state together at noon everyday.
We now our into another season of extreme drought and wildfires in New Mexico, we must seek the face of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Here is my post from yesterday……..
UPDATED THURSDAY MORNING:
Please be in prayer folks, I pray every Church will open their
doors everyday at Noon for prayer. I pray every town and county bans the sale of fireworks.
Fire danger is extreme in New Mexico. The Buzzard fire in Catron County has burned over 18,000 acres. I hope to have an update on that fire today. We are in serious shape here folks. It’s beyond time to seek the Lord.
The Rio Grande is drying up in spots as are lakes and creeks in the state.
Now comes word that the Santa Fe National Forest has closed ABQ Journal Report
FGGAM NEWS just received this news release:
Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department Cabinet Secretary and State Forester Announce
Fire Restrictions on All State Lands in New Mexico
SANTA FE, NM –New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Secretary Ken McQueen and State Forester Donald Griego today announced restrictions on fireworks, smoking, campfires and open fires on all state-owned land, as incidences of wildfires increase. Fire danger throughout the state is high due to warm temperatures, low humidity, high winds, and the abundance of dry, fine fuels. The restrictions will go into effect at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, June 1, 2018 and remain in effect until further notice on all state lands.
“We’re urging all New Mexicans to follow the restriction guidelines on state lands and to be vigilant on their own private land to help protect lives and property from wildfire in their communities,” said State Forester Donald Griego. “We also encourage local municipalities and counties to consider necessary and appropriate restrictions for their area if they haven’t done so already.”
State Forestry will continue to coordinate with other jurisdictions including federal, counties and municipalities to ensure that appropriate protections are in place as fire danger and wildfires increase.
SMOKING, FIREWORKS, CAMPFIRES, OPEN BURNING, AND OPEN FIRES ARE PROHIBITED ON STATE- OWNED LAND UNLESS THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS ARE MET:
Smoking is prohibited except in enclosed buildings, within vehicles equipped with ashtrays, and on paved or surfaced roads, developed recreation sites, or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable material.
Fireworks use is prohibited on lands covered wholly or in part in timber, brush, grass, grain, or other flammable vegetation. The State Forester is allowing exceptions to the ban on fireworks where they are a part of a public exhibit approved by the local fire department.
Campfires are prohibited unless the following exceptions are met. An exception is granted where cooking or heating devices use kerosene, white gas, or propane as a fuel in an improved camping area that is cleared of flammable vegetation for at least 30 feet or has a water source. New Mexico State Parks are included in this prohibition and may have more stringent park fire restrictions in place. For more information, contact the local State Park Office or visitnmparks.com.
Flaring of natural gas is prohibited. Unless flaring is needed for safety purposes, flaring shall not be done on days that are “red flag days” as determined by the National Weather Service or on days when the sustained wind is in excess of 25 miles per hour in the area. The State Forester grants an exception to the prohibition on open fires for the flaring of natural gas when the following conditions are met:
1. The day is not a “red flag day” as determined by the National Weather Service and the sustained wind is not more than 25 miles per hour in the area.
2. The local fire department and county dispatch are notified at least 24 hours in advance of anticipated releases that will result in flaring. If flaring is done by an automated system, then the schedule of flaring shall be provided to the local fire department and county dispatch. The area is mowed and maintained at a length not to exceed 4 inches and all other flammable products or debris shall be cleared in the area for a distance of one and one-half times the height of the stack.
3. At least one adult is on site with communications equipment adequate to reach county dispatch and the local fire department in the event of a fire. The individual should also be equipped with a shovel and a water backpack pump or other equipment to deliver water to suppress a fire.
4. If flaring is to take place at an unmanned facility, then the area around the flare stack is mowed and maintained at a length not to exceed 4 inches and all other flammable products or debris shall be cleared in the area for a distance of three times the height of the stack.
Other exceptions may be requested
The State Forester may allow additional exemptions upon receiving a written request and granting subsequent approval in writing. You may apply for exemptions other than those listed above for flaring or agricultural burning on the Forestry Division website at nmforestry.com. The exemptions provided above for flaring and agricultural burning do not require written approval so long as the conditions listed are met.
The State Forester may allow exemptions from the above upon receiving a written request and granting subsequent approval in writing. You may apply for an exemption on the Forestry Division website atnmforestry.com.
An exemption does not relieve a person from any civil or criminal liability associated with an uncontrolled fire, including costs associated with wildland fire suppression.
For details and the legal restriction notification, log onto nmforestry.com or call (505) 476-3325.
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Pastor Richard Mansfield of News Beginnings Church and NM Prays leads us in prayer………..
Lord, we are so grateful for Your love and faithfulness. Your are Jehovah Jireh, our Provider. You have promised to meet our every need and You have never let us down. Lord, we here in the Southwest part of the USA, most especially New Mexico is experiencing a severe drought. Our land is crying out for rain, our rivers are extremely low and some have even seen portions dry up. Ranchers and Farmers are in desperate need of rain and moisture. Our forests are dangerously dry and some are already burning. With Your infinite power, send us rain! We’re asking for an abundance of rain yet without flooding or damage to our communities. Fill our rivers, lakes, wells and ground with the needed water we need. Send precipitation, moisture and rain that we long for. We ask all these things with expectant hearts in Jesus name, Amen!
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Thank you so very much Pastor Richard! We love you and Cindy and your congregation!
We have had reports that some folks are saying that the Rio Grande river in Albuquerque
will dry up this summer if things do not change real quick. Huge danger of wildfires exists in New Mexico.
Some say they would not know rain if they saw it!
Pictured here is Pastor Richard and his angel wife Cindy!
