CLOUDCROFT, N.M. -- The village of Cloudcroft is losing some visitors because of fire dangers.

Cloudcroft residents and visitors just lost some privileges, including smoking cigarettes.

Some visitors said that would be OK with them, to protect the community, but without campfires, other visitors are heading elsewhere.

Throughout the village, signs remind visitors it's now unlawful to smoke, have campfires, or use fire of any kind. A current level 4 restriction means no flames, lawn mowers or chain saws.

“A couple of years ago we had a level 4 and it's when it gets really dry like this,” said Cloudcroft resident Michael Nivison.

At one village, park grills go untouched as it's against the law to use them now.

“We couldn't cook anything so that's why we brought cold stuff to eat,” Mary Torres a visitors from Artesia, N.M.

“We can't have fires right now. It's just too dangerous,” said Deputy Mark Tarantino of the Otero County Sheriff’s Department.

Some visitors are bypassing Cloudcroft and are heading up the road to Silver Lake on the Mescalero reservation.

“Sure people are going by because there aren't as many locations that they can go. The dispersed areas that they like to camp in are currently closed,” said Tarantino.

Visitors from Colorado last weekend pushed their fireplace ashes out onto the side of their cottage before they left. Days later a fire erupted. A neighbor's dogs smelled the smoke and alerted their owners.

“Another 15 minutes or something like that we could have had a real problem,” said Nivison.

The visitors were cited, but now the problem is reminding people that there are still other ways to enjoy the village without the use of fire.

“We have seven campgrounds that are monitored around here and some RV spots. They can still come and have a good time, and we'll give them a rain check on the fire,” said Nivison.

The Forest Service, Sheriff's Department and Village police all have the authority to write out citations if they find anyone using fire or smoking until the restrictions have been lifted.