CARSON CITY - Tinder-dry vegetation, lingering drought conditions, increasing daytime temperatures and several human-caused fires have prompted the Bureau of Land Management, Carson City District Office, and other public land management agencies to implement fire restrictions beginning June 28.
Vegetation in western Nevada is significantly drier for this time of year. Below average moisture this past winter and spring and warmer than average temperatures have led to the increased rate of drying the vegetation.
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.
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, 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, shovel and one gallon of water.
All agencies recommend avoiding cross-country travel whenever possible to prevent hot exhaust systems from igniting grass and recommend that individuals carry cell phones while in the wildlands or national forests to report wildfires.
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.
Report fires to the Sierra Front Interagency Fire Dispatch Center, Minden, Nev., at (775) 883-5995, or dial 911.
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