Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Wildfire Open Ban topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
County staff introduces open-burning resolution, commissioners debate immediate ban vs. flexible response
Summary
Bernalillo County fire and emergency-management officials asked commissioners to introduce a resolution creating a framework for county open-burning restrictions, arguing for data-driven, day-by-day authority; some commissioners urged an immediate countywide ban for high-risk East Mountain communities.
Fire Chief Zach Lardy told the Bernalillo County Board of Commissioners that staff is taking a more data-driven approach to this year’s wildfire season and asked the board to introduce a resolution that would allow county leaders to formalize open‑burn restrictions if conditions worsen.
The request, presented as an introduction rather than immediate adoption, reflected new monitoring tools and recent weather trends—staff said snowpack depletion and March heat advanced the county’s dry‑season timeline and that the department has been using daily authority under the county fire code to prohibit burning as needed. "Our goal is to maintain that level of flexibility going forward," Chief Lardy said, explaining the county’s use of satellite alerts, AI‑enabled panoramic cameras and targeted green‑waste collection to reduce risk and detect fires early.
Emergency management staff and solid‑waste officials described aggressive removal of yard and brush debris in the East Mountains and community outreach plans. Solid‑waste staff said spring cleanups and grant‑supported free dumping events collected more than 1,200 tons of green waste, and additional targeted cleanups remain scheduled.
Several commissioners instead argued for a clearer, stricter public message. Commissioner Olivas said federal and state partners had already adopted conservative restrictions and said the county should prioritize residents in more remote neighborhoods: "I didn't see the level of urgency as a member of the public," he said, urging staff to err on the side of caution for East Mountain residents who face one way in and one way out.
County managers and fire staff responded that a formal, multi‑week ban could reduce the county’s ability to allow controlled burning on days that are demonstrably low risk, potentially eroding public trust in county advisories. Staff also noted the difficulty and cost of enforcement for a standing countywide prohibition and said daily direction allows targeted, defensible decisions tied to current conditions.
The commission voted to introduce the resolution for future formal adoption and kept the question of immediate, countywide prohibition open for further review; the introduction now moves to a future meeting for final action. Staff said they will continue public education and a communications campaign focused on wildfire readiness and evacuation preparedness.
