SAN FIDEL, N.M. – Students in Mrs. Rodriguez’s first, second and third grade class at San Fidel Mission School used art to share an important firesafety message as Cibola County enters a dry and dangerous stretch of spring.
The student drawings feature Smokey Bear, flames, trees and handwritten reminders about preventing wildfire. Several of the drawings urge people not to leave fires unattended, reflecting the same message fire officials and land managers are emphasizing across western New Mexico as drought conditions continue.
The artwork comes as Cibola County remains 100 percent in drought, with severe and extreme drought conditions now covering the county. Fire restrictions are also in place across multiple jurisdictions, including Stage I restrictions on the Mt. Taylor Ranger District, Stage II restrictions at Bluewater Lake State Park, local burn restrictions in Cibola County and the Village of Milan, and statewide restrictions on certain nonfederal, non-Tribal and non-municipal lands. The children’s drawings offer a timely reminder that wildfire prevention is not only the responsibility of firefighters and land managers. It is a community responsibility shared by residents, visitors, families and even the youngest students learning how to care for the land around them.
As summer approaches, residents are encouraged to follow all burn bans and fire restrictions, avoid fireworks, make sure campfires are fully out where they are legally allowed, and report smoke or fire concerns quickly.