ELKO, Nev. – As temperatures begin to cool and local area hunters take to the outdoors, the BLM Elko District Office would like to remind public land users of fire restrictions still in place on public lands.
Fire restrictions were implemented July 1st due to seasonal drying conditions, increasing daytime temperatures and a number of human-caused fires. Although daytime temperatures are cooling, range conditions are still relatively dry and risks of large wildfires are still high. Until significant weather changes occur, fire restrictions will remain in place.
“We appreciate all of the cooperation to date from all public land users,” said Dylan Rader, Interagency Fire Management Officer. “Human-caused fires have dropped dramatically in the past month, but we need to remind everyone that the risks are still there and ask for the public’s continued cooperation. We need people to realize that this is a very dry year and fuel moistures are still well below average. Any type of activity that has a potential to start a fire should be carefully considered, if it’s not included under fire restrictions ensure it is safe to do before doing it. ”
The restrictions are in place on lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Elko District Office, the Jarbidge, Mountain City and Ruby Mountains Ranger Districts of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest; Nevada Division of Forestry Protection Districts in Northeastern Nevada; and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Prohibited Activities on Federal and State administered lands:
- Campfires, Wood Stoves or Briquette Fires Not Allowed, except in developed recreation sites. Liquefied and bottle gas stoves and heaters may be used.
- No Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, developed recreation site or while stopped in an area that is barren or cleared of all flammable material for three feet in every direction.
- Explosives, using or causing to be used, any explosive, except by permit.
- Fireworks, possession or use of fireworks (always prohibited), or any other incendiary device.
- Ammunition, use of tracer rounds, steel-core ammunition or any type of exploding targets including Binary Explosive Targets while recreational shooting.
- Open burning (e.g. weeds, brush and yard debris).
Discouraged Activities:
- Use of Chainsaws, Generators, or other Internal Combustion Engines, except in a developed recreation site and then only in an area that has been cleared, at least 10 feet in diameter, of all flammable material. When using a chainsaw, you must have a shovel and minimum 2.5-pound fire extinguisher nearby. Electrical generators may be used when factory installed in a recreational vehicle.
- Travel Off Developed Roads and Trails, except for the purpose of going to and from a campsite located within 300 feet of the open developed road.
For 2012 to date, there have been 100 human-caused fires on 3,032 acres and 146 lightning-caused fires on 289,167 acres across Federal, State and Forest Service lands within Elko District.
For more information on public-use restrictions, contact your local Forest Service office at (775) 738-5171; Nevada Division of Forestry at (775) 738-3454; or BLM Elko District Office at (775) 753-0200.
