Wildfires struck hard this summer, ravaging New Mexico’s dry forests from Silver City to the Arizona border, and leaving nature enthusiasts with few outdoor options in the state.
Popular tourist and camping locations such as Jemez Springs have been shut down for more than three weeks, according to a Santa Fe National Forest news release.
Tourism lulled in the Jemez, resulting in record losses for businesses, said Los Ojos restaurant owner Brian Appell.
“Business is probably down 40 percent due to the forest closure and fire,” Appell said.
He said smaller stores rely on tourism and campers, and the Forest Service should have allowed some sites to stay open during the closures to attract business.
“The people are upset because they’re not able to camp,” he said.
“The fire is pretty far away … Some of the places are not even dangerous … and they shut down areas that probably wouldn’t affect the fire conditions negatively.”
UNM medical student Chris Hawthorn said he has visited Jemez dozens of times with family and friends and enjoys camping, cliff jumping and the hot springs there.
“In the summer you want to go camping, especially somewhere nearby,” he said. “It’s sad that with the conditions and them having to close it, that’s not possible now.”
The prospect of reopening areas in the Santa Fe National Forest, including Jemez and the Valles Caldera, depends on the rain, SFNF spokesman Bruce Hill Jr. said. He said officials may decide Monday to reopen some areas.
The Las Conchas fire, the largest in state history, led to the closure of Los Alamos National Labs for several days, as well as the evacuation of the city’s citizens. Evacuations in areas of Catron and Mora counties occurred in July.
Most of the fires have been at least partially contained, including the Los Conchas fire, which is 75 percent contained.
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Albuquerque Fire Department (AFD) spokeswoman Melissa Romero said that restricted sections of Albuquerque were recently opened, including the Bosque.
AFD handed out $500 fines to those caught in restricted areas.
Open space areas reopened July 11, followed by most State and National Parks.
Albuquerque has received fewer than 2 inches of rain since January, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. More than 50 percent of the state, including the Albuquerque area, remains in extreme drought conditions, according to the U.S. drought monitor.
