SANTA FE, NM — June 12, 2021 – National Get Outdoors Day, or “GO day,” is a day designed to attract new, diverse communities to outdoor activities and motivate kids to explore their public lands. As we welcome visitors to enjoy our New Mexico State Parks, national forests, and other public lands for GO day, we also remind people that the month of June comes with increased fire danger. The Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department Forestry Division, in cooperation with partners, is asking visitors to please recreate responsibly and be prepared for wildfire. Continuing our “wildfire preparedness is year-round” campaign, our message for June is don’t get burned, be prepared. Here are a few things to keep in mind when visiting public lands on GO day and beyond:

Always check for fire restrictions and closures in the area you plan to visit BEFORE you leave.

In places where campfires are allowed:

• Never leave a campfire unattended.
• Keep a bucket of water and a shovel nearby.
• When it's time to put the fire out, pour lots of water on it, stir it with a shovel, then pour more water. 
• Make sure it is COLD before leaving the campsite. If it's too hot to touch, it's too hot to leave!
• Follow Smokey’s campfire rules!

A large part of our “wildfire preparedness is year-round” campaign has been to encourage homeowners, especially in the wildland-urban interface, to be prepared for wildfire. June is wildfire season in New Mexico, and it’s an important time to remind everyone to be ready for wildfire before it strikes by following Ready, Set, Go!

• Be Ready: Create and maintain defensible space and harden your home against flying embers.
• Get Set: Prepare your family and home ahead of time for the possibility of having to evacuate. Ensure you have a plan of what to take and where to go.
• Be Ready to GO!: When wildfire strikes, go early for your safety. Take the evacuation steps necessary to give your family and home the best chance of surviving a wildfire.

The EMNRD Forestry Division is working with the Carson, Cibola, and Santa Fe National Forests, Forest Stewards Guild, Fire Adapted NM, and Bureau of Land Management New Mexico State Office to build a 2021 wildfire preparedness calendar and share the message across multiple platforms, including social media, webinars and community events. Bookmark the wildfire preparedness webpage to follow the campaign throughout the year.