The wildfire-prone New Mexico county where the Department of Energy’s Los Alamos National Laboratory is located has entered “stage 1 fire restrictions,” according to a recent post from the Los Alamos County Department of Public Utilities.
“Fire Marshal Colorado Cordova of the Los Alamos Fire Department (LAFD) has enacted fire restrictions to Stage 1, effective April 28, within the boundaries of Los Alamos County to safeguard public health and safety, as well as protect lands, structures, natural and historical artifacts,” according to an online notice.
The stage 1 restrictions prohibits or limits use of outdoor fires in most situations. Violations of fire restrictions laid out in the order can result in a written citation and potential criminal penalties, according to the notice.
The area around the DOE lab has seen its share of wildfires through the years with one of the most recent being the Cerro Pelado wildfire four years ago that burned thousands of acres.