The Laboratory this week implemented work restrictions in forested or undeveloped areas on Laboratory property because of continued drought conditions and the potential for an extreme wild land fire season. Only work that is mission essential, environment/safety/health and regulatory essential, and forest fuels mitigation activities is allowed.
“Winter precipitation and snow pack levels are below the 30-year average accumulation levels,” said Manny L’Esperance of Emergency Management and Response (EMR). “The continued drought, coupled with heavy understory growth caused by last year’s precipitation, and continued tree mortality from both beetle infestation and drought conditions prompt the restrictions.”
Under the restrictions announced this week in Notice 0174, recreational activities such as walking, jogging, hiking, biking and similar activities are prohibited in all undeveloped areas except on asphalt roads and the Wellness trail between the Wellness Center at Technical Area 3 and the Los Alamos County Fire Station 5 (Adobe Acrobat Reader required).
Forest fuels mitigation projects currently under way will continue to protect both the Laboratory and the public from neighboring high-risk lands in the event of an off-Lab wild land fire ignition.
Other provisions of the restrictions include
• Driving off established roadways will be restricted to mission essential, environment, safety and health and regulatory essential, and forest fuels mitigation activities;
• All spark- and flame-producing activities conducted outside of buildings or designated welding/cutting and hot work areas require written permit approval from the worker’s senior responsible line manager and the [Laboratory] fire marshall or his designee;
• Implementing a “Work Restriction Matrix” that limits activities based on graduated fire danger ratings;
• Adding approvals before operational burning activity is submitted for Department of Energy authorization;
• Requiring spark arrestors on portable generators used in undeveloped areas;
• Limiting outdoor cooking activities to electric or gas-fired grills in developed areas.
Lab managers should assess their areas of responsibility, both indoors and outdoors, for accumulation of combustible materials or operations that could pose a threat of fire, or create an unnecessary fire exposure to facilities and operations. Suggested items to consider include
• Remove trash, discarded combustible experimental materials, wooden pallets and overgrown weeds, brush and trees in the vicinity of structures;
• Keep grassy and landscaped areas maintained;
• Properly store gas cans, diesel fuel for equipment and generators and similar items;
• Maintain access to facilities, e.g., fire roads, fire lanes and access for emergency response vehicles should not be blocked or obstructed.
“We need everyone’s support in observing the restrictions,” L’Esperance said. “A fast-moving fire caused by someone’s carelessness or knowing violation of the restrictions would be devastating to the Laboratory, its workers and the surrounding communities.”
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Forest Service restrictions in place
Defensible Space Day today
Stage one fire restrictions are in place beginning this morning on the east side of the Santa Fe National Forest.
The lack of winter and spring moisture, high winds and low humidity levels, along with increasing temperatures prompted forest officials to impose the restrictions, according to a news release from the forest service.
The Sangre de Cristo Mountains east of U.S. 84-285 fall under stage one restrictions, which limit campfires to developed camp and picnic grounds where grills are provided. Smoking is permitted only in vehicles, in developed campgrounds, or in areas cleared at least 3 feet in diameter of all flammable material.
Forest lands west of U.S. 84-285, including areas around Los Alamos, Abiquiu, Jemez, Cuba and Coyote have received more moisture and do not warrant the stage one restrictions, according to the release. All fireworks are prohibited on national forest lands.
To read a forest service news release, click here (Adobe Acrobat Reader required).
Los Alamos County residents can learn about ways to make their home safe from potential wild fires at the fourth annual defensible space day today. The event is scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m. at the Los Alamos Community Building next to Ashley Pond in downtown Los Alamos. The event is free and open to the public.
For more information, contact Susan DiMauro-Roeser at (505) 681-2358 or go to www.lac-defensiblespace.us online.
