Shutdown could slow response to wildfires

with high fire danger and a storm bringing gusty winds -- there are a lot of concerns tonight about how a government shutdown would affect firefighting efforts on federal land in new mexico. cristina rodda continues our team coverage with that part of the story. cristina. u-s senator tom udall is sounding the alarm -- warning that the federal government shut down could severely impact new mexico's ability to fight wildfires. senator udall says the government shut down wouldn't keep firefighters from battling fires... but it certainly would make fighting fires more difficult. that's because thousands of department of interior and forest service workers -- would stay home. if we have a fire they are not going to be able to get out to spot it, report it and get people out there quickly. in new mexico more than 100- thousand acres have already burned this year. 2011 is expected to be one one the worst fire seasons in decades. in case of a government shutdown-- national forests and historic areas would be closed to the public. including the cibola and gila national forests and the sevilleta national wildlife refuge... just to name a few. back to you. tonight the bureau of indian affairs says a government shutdown would not affect police services or schools on reservations. the bureau- operated schools are on a different funding cycle and would stay open. however -- if a shutdown lasts longer than a week -- the southwestern indian polytechnic institute here in albuquerque would be forced to close.// another concern for many people is that active duty military members won't get paid if there's a government shutdown. we spoke to some veterans and their families today who believe that would be unacceptable. "if the government shuts down and our troops don't get their money, that's just wrong. so somebody needs to get their head........ straight." "my son's in the u-s marines, and my daughter-in-law is in the u-s navy, and it would affect them on a level that i don't think is fair, because they are risking their lives everyday for us." you can count on kob eyewitness news 4 to bring you the very latest developments as the deadline to a government shutdown draws closer

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[raph1239]

YES WERE SAFE IT'S NOT GONNA SHUT DOWN

[raph1239]

this scares me i hope it dosent

[Anothercoilgun]

Blah.