ELKO - With the temperatures beginning to rise, the Elko District Interagency Fire Management Team would like to remind the community of the dry weather conditions still prevalent in northeastern Nevada.
"Even with this winter's snowfall and recent precipitation, the conditions in Elko County and throughout northeastern Nevada are still extremely dry and susceptible to fires as is evidenced by our recent fire activity," said Elko Interagency Fire Management officer Michael Ford.
The Interagency Fire Management Team has held several meetings in the past few weeks with local fire leadership, community leaders and ranchers to ensure all affected parties are kept up to date with the latest development in operations and tactics.
Incorporating local ranching community liaisons in the fire chain of command is a unique element of northeastern Nevada's fire program and has proven to be invaluable in keeping both ranchers and fire personnel informed of important aspects of fire suppression.
Seasonal fire crews checked in and began training May 20 for the upcoming season. The Elko Interagency Fire crews will be fully staffed and operational throughout the fire season.
In the event of severe weather conditions, fire restrictions are likely to be imposed. The public is asked to assist in taking precautions to minimize fire risk.
Some precautions include:
• Never leave a campfire unattended and always make sure they are dead out. Extinguish all campfires completely and stir ashes to make sure no hot coals remain.
• When using a campfire, dig a pit and use a fire ring.
• Dispose of cigarettes in proper containers away from any flammable material. Do not throw cigarettes out of moving vehicles.
• If off-road vehicle use is allowed, internal combustion equipment should have a spark arrester.
• Never use stoves, lanterns or heaters inside a tent.
• Store flammable liquid containers in a safe place.
• Do not shoot any tracer bullets or incendiary ammunition.
• Shoot only at cardboard or paper targets, manufactured metallic targets or manufactured thrown-type clay targets.
• Remember, shots fired across open desert can travel more than a mile.
• Do not conduct any activity that might cause a spark in dry brush.
• At the first sign of a wildfire, leave area immediately by established trails or roads.
• For more comprehensive precautions, please visit www.livingwithfire.info.
To report a fire, contact Elko Interagency Dispatch Center at (775) 748-4000, or 911. When reporting fires, please gather and relay the following information:
• Provide a landmark, or mile marker if on a paved thoroughfare.
• Compass direction of the smoke from your position.
• How high is the smoke, what color is it?
• Are flames visible?
Information on incidents can be obtained from various sources, including: inciweb.nwcg.gov - for incidents larger than 500 acres; http://gacc.nifc.gov/wgbc/dc/nveic/
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