AZTEC, NM—Due to severe fire conditions, San Juan County Fire & Rescue will not be issuing burn permits for residents in Bloomfield, Kirtland, and the unincorporated part of San Juan County. 

Burn permits will not be issued until further notice. 

San Juan County ordinance and New Mexico statute mandate the issuance of burn permits for legal open burning. Open burning is defined as the burning of materials without a chimney, in a manner in which the products of combustion are emitted to the open air. This includes the burning of cropland, fields, rangeland, debris burning, slash piles, burn barrels, prescribed burning, or weed burning. This regulation does not apply to recreational fires in a fire pit, charcoal grills, and wood and coal stoves in the yard of a residence or on the premises of a business. 

San Juan County is currently listed with 65% of the county in severe drought (D2). Current conditions coupled with long-term forecasts and evaluation of fuels indicate that conditions will continue to worsen into May. 

Current conditions, including windy, hot, and dry weather, and susceptibility of fuels to fire, means residents need to be especially careful with any activities that could cause a fire. This includes industrial activities like welding, grinding, and cutting, parking hot engines on dry brush or grass, or the use of small engine equipment, which could cause sparks. It is important to be cautious when disposing of cigarettes and careful with any gas or charcoal grills. 

Residents who burn without a permit, or carelessly start a fire, can be charged under New Mexico statute, and could face up to 90 days, a $500 fine, or both. We will work closely with the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office to issue citations when appropriate. Fines and jail time will be imposed by a judge. 

San Juan County Fire & Rescue staff will continue to monitor conditions and will update the situation as it changes.

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