Fire restrictions implemented in Carson City and throughout region, fireworks prohibited

The Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Forest Service, and the Nevada Division of Forestry have announced the implementation of fire restrictions for all state and federally owned lands. In addition, the Carson City Fire Department has now implemented fire restrictions on city and privately owned lands within Carson City.

Vegetation in western Nevada and eastern California has dried out significantly. A large crop of grass and brush is evident at lower elevations and trees and other forest vegetation at higher elevations are quickly drying out. The public is encouraged to safely enjoy the public lands, bearing in mind that human-caused fires annually threaten human life, private property and public land resources every summer.

Off-highway motor vehicle enthusiasts are advised that hot exhaust systems can ignite dry grasses. The potential for another devastating fire during the summer is very real. Report fires to the Carson City Dispatch Center by calling 911.

Fire Restrictions Prohibit:
1. 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).

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

3. Operating vehicles or other motorized equipment off of existing paved, gravel, or dirt roads.

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

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

6. Possession or use of fireworks (always prohibited), or any other incendiary device.

7. Use of tracer rounds, steel-core ammunition or exploding targets while recreational shooting. 8. Open burning (e.g. weeds, brush and yard debris).

In addition, the Nevada Division of Forestry has placed travel restrictions within the Sierra Fire Protection District. These restrictions 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, shovel and one gallon of water.

The BLM and the Forest Service recommend avoiding cross-country travel whenever possible to prevent grass from igniting from hot exhaust systems. Those city agencies that have responsibility to perform off road work should pay particular attention to where vehicles are driven, parked, or stopped.

These restrictions do not prevent individual property owners from the safe use of barbecues, Chimeras, or patio fireplaces provided they are used on non-combustible surfaces away from ignitable wildland fuels on their own property.

Meanwhile, increased fuels due to the wet winter and spring, drying vegetation, drought conditions, increasing daytime temperatures, and several human-caused fires have prompted agencies that manage public land in Nevada to implement fire restrictions effective Thursday, June 30, at 12:01 a.m. and lasting until further notice.

Elsewhere, fire restrictions on National Forest System lands in the Lake Tahoe Basin begin Friday, July 1, and will remain in effect until the official end of fire season. Campfires will be restricted to certain exempted recreation sites and other fire-related activities will be prohibited.

Illegal and unattended campfires cause over 90 percent of wildfires in the Lake Tahoe Basin and increased fire danger due to the ongoing drought and warm summer weather is a big concern at Lake Tahoe. Fire restrictions help reduce the possibility of human caused fires.

“Given the past several years of drought we’ve experienced and our current warm temperatures, we ask that the public follow restrictions and help us to keep the Lake Tahoe Basin safe from human caused wildfires,” said Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) Forest Supervisor Jeff Marsolais. “Folks need to remain vigilant and remember that campfires and charcoal grills are only allowed in approved areas of the National Forest.”

On National Forest System Lands, fire restrictions mean:
— No open fires, campfires or charcoal fires are allowed outside of exempted recreation sites (see Forest Order) even with a valid campfire permit. Campfires must be built within agency installed and approved fire rings or grills. Lanterns and portable stoves using gas, jellied petroleum or pressurized liquid fuel are allowed with a valid California Campfire Permit available at http://www.preventwildfireca.org/Campfire-Permit or from Forest Service offices during normal business hours.
— No smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle, building or exempted recreation site.
— Internal combustion engines are restricted to National Forest System roads, routes, trails and areas as identified on the LTBMU Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM) at http://www.fs.usda.gov/goto/ltbmu/TravelManagement.
— No possessing, discharging or using any kind of firework or other pyrotechnic device, using an explosive or operating a welding or other torch with an open flame. All fireworks, including sparklers and firecrackers, are always illegal in the Lake Tahoe Basin.

The fire restriction Forest Order will be posted at http://www.fs.usda.gov/goto/ltbmu/ForestOrders as soon as it becomes available.

For more information on fire restrictions, call the Forest Supervisor’s office at 530-543-2600, Monday through Friday (excluding holidays) from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., or the Taylor Creek Visitor Center at 530-543-2674 (weekends and holidays).