Desert is a tinderbox

Most forest and wild fires are started by human sources. For instance, some of the young people with their ATV's are using my property for off-road riding by creating a course through the dried tumbleweeds, dead mesquite and other dried brush.

[USMC Retired]

I am praying for the safety of all my New Mexican brothers and sisters. The economic disaster will be great as will the personal disasters. May God be with you all this next couple days.

[another view]

From all of the news reports, 2 important things have been missing:

1. the large numbers of people who move to the Desert SW for health reasons, specifically lung. I'm always surprised by the number of people in Luna County needing portable oxygen.
2. Clear the land around your buildings. 25ft. minimum. Personally, I've cleared 50ft. The people in town? Best wishes, stay alert.

[June Bug]

Thank You, Jan, for those wise words of warning. I hope others will take heed. Having been close to being displaced by wild fires a couple of times, I can tell you there is nothing so frightening. Some people have lost everything dear to them because of the stupidity of others. My heart goes out to all those who are impacted by these recent fires in Arizona.

[Disappointed]

Most fires are caused by lightning. Its natures way of clearing out the old so the new can grow. Only real problem is that people move to places where this danger is high, and they don't clear the land around there house. And yes people do stupid things.

[Concerned]

In past years when Deming has gotten little or no rain, the City Officials or Fire Marshal would place a ban on fireworks for the county and city limits(sometime I think they would ban the fireworks for the entire state). I have been concerned about this for awhile with the drought we have been experiencing and now especially with the fires in Arizona. I agree that precautions need to be in place.

[Incredulous]

As an optimist, I am counting on rain before the 4th.

[patriot767]

Common sense rules versus overreacting politicians and such.

1. Dont light fireworks in a grassy area or when the wind is blowing more than 10-15 mph.

2. Dont hold anything in your hand while your light the dam thing.

3. Use the punk. Dont use a lighter or a match. Save your fingers the burn.

4. Select an area that is flat with little ground clutter. Take some water and if the area is remote, keep a bucket of water handy or prepare the area by wetting down the shrubs nearby to reduce the tinderbox bullsh*t syndrome everyone is now wynning about.

5. If your neighbors house is made of conbustibale material, ask them if its ok to shoot off your patriotic duty this July 4th. Why not even take a more bolder step and invite them to your show?

6. Every year its the same message, its a tinderbox out there fellow patriots... we are all going to burn in he11 from all the fireworks getting set off.

7. If you let your kids light the big ones off, monitor them as they do. Dont just drink the dam PBR and walk around with your head up your a$$ bragging about the time you almost blew your fingers off that one year...

Every year, as July 4th approaches, the sky fills up with clouds and 99 percent of the time it rains like he11 before the 4th. The other one percent of the time, its dry because it is a desert after all.

Just wait out the winds when it does blow and by sundown it will be calm enough to enjoy our holiday.

Follow simple common sense and guess what peoples... You will have a great celebration that will out perform Cinco de Mayo any time.... After all this is OUR AMERICAN PROUD USA CELEBRATION... no other nation blows the crap out of July 4th better than us.

[June Bug]

To Disappointed in Rio Rancho. You may want to check your facts...according to experts, 90% of wild fires are caused by "human interaction with nature". Simple common sense IS the key to a fun and safe Independence Day Celebration.

[Just an idea]

patriot767 wrote:

Common sense rules versus overreacting politicians and such.
1. Dont light fireworks in a grassy area or when the wind is blowing more than 10-15 mph.
2. Dont hold anything in your hand while your light the dam thing.
3. Use the punk. Dont use a lighter or a match. Save your fingers the burn.
4. Select an area that is flat with little ground clutter. Take some water and if the area is remote, keep a bucket of water handy or prepare the area by wetting down the shrubs nearby to reduce the tinderbox bullsh*t syndrome everyone is now wynning about.
5. If your neighbors house is made of conbustibale material, ask them if its ok to shoot off your patriotic duty this July 4th. Why not even take a more bolder step and invite them to your show?
6. Every year its the same message, its a tinderbox out there fellow patriots... we are all going to burn in he11 from all the fireworks getting set off.
7. If you let your kids light the big ones off, monitor them as they do. Dont just drink the dam PBR and walk around with your head up your a$$ bragging about the time you almost blew your fingers off that one year...
Every year, as July 4th approaches, the sky fills up with clouds and 99 percent of the time it rains like he11 before the 4th. The other one percent of the time, its dry because it is a desert after all.
Just wait out the winds when it does blow and by sundown it will be calm enough to enjoy our holiday.
Follow simple common sense and guess what peoples... You will have a great celebration that will out perform Cinco de Mayo any time.... After all this is OUR AMERICAN PROUD USA CELEBRATION... no other nation blows the crap out of July 4th better than us.

Maybe its time to bring back the Butterfield Trail Days or something similar to be celebrated on the 4th of July instead of just a fireworks show. Like having a Parade or rodeo and afterward a community park concert at the Court House Park with food booths, carnival and vendors, games and contests. Have a 4th of July decorating contest for the best decorated home or business. The City could put up flag banners or flags down our main street light posts on Gold and Pine from June 14-July 5 to decorate the town and get everyone enthused for the 4th. If people don't attend this then drop it the following year and the naysayers about Cinco de mayo can stop whining. Don't mean to be rude to anyone but I think its worth a try.

[Agree]

Just an idea wrote:

<quoted text>Maybe its time to bring back the Butterfield Trail Days or something similar to be celebrated on the 4th of July instead of just a fireworks show. Like having a Parade or rodeo and afterward a community park concert at the Court House Park with food booths, carnival and vendors, games and contests. Have a 4th of July decorating contest for the best decorated home or business. The City could put up flag banners or flags down our main street light posts on Gold and Pine from June 14-July 5 to decorate the town and get everyone enthused for the 4th. If people don't attend this then drop it the following year and the naysayers about Cinco de mayo can stop whining. Don't mean to be rude to anyone but I think its worth a try.

I agree there needs to be other stuff going on, especially if fireworks get banned.

[thanks]

Thanks to the City of Deming for the fireworks display on the 4th and thanks to their many contributors for making this possible.

[Just an idea]

Just an idea wrote:

<quoted text>Maybe its time to bring back the Butterfield Trail Days or something similar to be celebrated on the 4th of July instead of just a fireworks show. Like having a Parade or rodeo and afterward a community park concert at the Court House Park with food booths, carnival and vendors, games and contests. Have a 4th of July decorating contest for the best decorated home or business. The City could put up flag banners or flags down our main street light posts on Gold and Pine from June 14-July 5 to decorate the town and get everyone enthused for the 4th. If people don't attend this then drop it the following year and the naysayers about Cinco de mayo can stop whining. Don't mean to be rude to anyone but I think its worth a try.

Good ideas can become a reality.

[concerned]

In the last week or so I have seen people either burning tree limbs/branches and dry grass/weeds in their yard. Is this not illegal to do in the city limits? Especially with the dry spell we are having people need to be careful that their little fires don't spread to other areas or get out of control.