Fire restrictions begin Friday in Western Nevada

Fire restrictions will begin Friday on public land throughout western Nevada, eastern California and the Sierra, according to the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management.

Below-average precipitation this winter and spring and a third consecutive year of drought have led to abnormally low soil-and-fuel moistures, increasing the potential for large and potentially devastating wildfires, the agencies announced.

Tinder-dry vegetation west of Highway 395, lingering drought conditions, increasing daytime temperatures and some human-caused fires have prompted the Carson and Bridgeport Ranger Districts of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, the Bureau of Land Management, Carson City District Office, the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Nevada Division of Forestry to announce the implementation of 2014 fire restrictions.

Timber vegetation in western Nevada and eastern California is significantly dryer for this time of year. The lack of snowpack this past winter has also led to large areas of frost-killed brush. The potential for another devastating fire during the summer is very real. Report fires to the Interagency Dispatch Center, 775-883-5995, or dial 911.

Fire Restrictions Prohibit:
— Building, maintaining, attending or using a fire (using wood, charcoal or any other material), campfire, or stove fire except a portable stove using gas or pressurized liquid fuel, outside of a developed fee campground or picnic area (except by permit).

— Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or at a developed campground or picnic area.

— Welding, or operating an acetylene torch with open flames, except by permit.

— Using or causing to be used, any explosive, except by permit.

— Possession or use of fireworks (always prohibited), or any other incendiary device.
— Use of tracer rounds, steel-core ammunition or exploding targets including Binary Explosive Targets while recreational shooting.

— Open burning (e.g. weeds, brush, and yard debris).

In addition, the Nevada Division of Forestry restrictions within the Sierra Fire Protection District, and the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest prohibit operating vehicles off of existing hard-surface gravel roads or dirt roads in wildland areas, and operating vehicles or equipment traveling on or using wildland areas without at least an axe, a shovel, and one gallon of water. All agencies recommend avoiding cross-country travel whenever possible to prevent grass from igniting from hot exhaust systems and recommend that individuals carry cell phones while in the wildlands or national forests to report wild fires.

Affected Areas:
Forest Service - all areas, roads, and trails within the Carson and Bridgeport Ranger Districts on the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, with the exception of using campfires within the approved fire pits or grills provided in open Fee Recreation sites.

Affected Areas:
BLM - all public land areas, roads, and trails located west of Highway 395 within and administered by the BLM-Nevada Carson City District Office, with the exception of Indian Creek Campground, where there are designated fire pits and campfires are permitted.

All public land areas, roads, and trails located east of Highway 395 within and administered by the BLM-Nevada Carson City District Office are not affected by fire restrictions at this time.

BIA - Approximately 300 allotments encompassing 59,310 acres in Douglas County within the Carson Watershed that the U.S. Government (BIA) holds in trust for hundreds of individual Indian landowners, collectively known as the Pine Nut Allotments.

NDF - all areas, roads, and trails west of Highway 395.

Citizens are reminded that the charcoal grills cannot be used during fire restrictions. Charcoal burns longer and hotter than wood and may appear to be cold; however, embers can linger for hours. Winds can spread the embers from charcoal and campfires into vegetation, igniting a wildfire. Propane or white gas stoves, however, are acceptable for use during fire restrictions.

As fire season continues, the USFS and BLM will be aggressively citing those who do not comply with the posted restrictions and those who use or possess fireworks. Violation of these prohibitions is subject to punishment by a fine of not more than $10,000 or imprisonment for not more than six months or both, as Class B misdemeanors under federal law (agency statutes vary). Persons may also be responsible for resource damage, suppression costs and any injuries that occur if they are found liable for causing a wildfire.

For more information or clarification on the restrictions, please contact the respective area(s) that you have questions about in the above listed agencies.