Lincoln National Forest Expands Fire Prevention and Education Team to Protect Public Lands

(Alamogordo, NM, April 8, 2026) — Now through April 20, a multi-agency Fire Prevention and Education Team (FPET) is working on the Lincoln National Forest to help promote fire safety messaging for visitors. This team includes professionals from the U.S. Wildland Fire Service and U.S. Forest Service and is tasked with sharing fire prevention information by visiting local businesses, historic sites, visitor centers, campgrounds, community events and other areas on the Lincoln National Forest to provide fire safety education and describe how individuals can prevent wildfires, ultimately protecting lives and property from wildfire.

“Human-caused wildfires remain one of the most preventable threats to our communities,” says David Sosa, Fire Staff Officer for the Lincoln National Forest. “By bringing a National Fire Prevention and Education Team to the Lincoln National Forest, we are taking a proactive, science-based approach to engage directly with the public, reduce risk, and strengthen community wildfire mitigation and protection efforts. Prevention is our most effective tool—every avoided ignition helps safeguard lives, property, and critical infrastructure.”

By engaging with the public and delivering timely information, the team will educate the public about recreating responsibly on public lands and practicing responsible fire use, with the intent of reducing future fire ignitions.

Persistent drought, dry vegetation, and recent wildfire activity have intensified concerns across the Lincoln National Forest. Interagency fire officials are urging residents and visitors to take extra precautions while enjoying public lands. Human-caused ignitions, such as unattended campfires, debris burning, dragging trailer chains, and the use of landscaping or power equipment continue to be the leading causes of wildfires in the Lincoln National Forest and surrounding areas.

Fire restrictions are currently in effect across the Lincoln National Forest. The Stage 1 Fire Restrictions include prohibiting the igniting, building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire (including fires fueled by charcoal or briquettes) outside of a permanent metal fire ring that the U.S. Forest Service has installed and maintained within a developed recreation site (campgrounds and picnic areas).

The state of New Mexico’s Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department (EMNRD) has also enacted fire restrictions imposed for non-federal, non-Tribal and non-municipal lands in New Mexico.

For detailed information regarding the current fire restrictions, please visit:

• Lincoln National Forest Alerts
• EMNRD Fire Restrictions
• Nearby Forest, State, and other lands current fire restrictions map.
• Updates on conditions on the Lincoln National Forest website and social media.

The Lincoln National Forest Fire Prevention and Education Team is eager to expand and deliver prevention education throughout the area.

For media inquiries regarding FPET, please contact the media line; 505-470-9298

About the Forest Service: The USDA Forest Service has for more than 100 years brought people and communities together to answer the call of conservation. Grounded in world-class science and technology– and rooted in communities–the Forest Service connects people to nature and to each other. The Forest Service cares for shared natural resources in ways that promote lasting economic, ecological, and social vitality. The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, provides assistance to state and private landowners, maintains the largest wildland fire and forestry research organizations in the world. The Forest Service also has either a direct or indirect role in stewardship of about 900 million forested acres within the U.S., of which over 130 million acres are urban forests where most Americans live.

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