Sunday, 17 June 2007 23:41
BLM Tightens Fire Restrictions Early
Due to extreme dry conditions, the Bureau of
Land Management (BLM) is
implementing fire restrictions on all BLM-managed public lands within the
Folsom Field Office boundary.
This includes BLM-managed public lands in Nevada, Yuba, Placer, El
Dorado, Amador, Sacramento, Calaveras, Tuolumne, Stanislaus, Sutter, and
Mariposa Counties, for a total of about 230,000 acres. The fire restrictions will be effective on
Monday, June 18, 2007, and will remain effective until further notice. These special limitations prohibit all open
fires on public lands because of extremely dry conditions. According to Fire Management Officer Ken
Hood, the elevated fire danger
level came six weeks earlier than expected.
Campers are urged to be familiar with special limitations prior to
visiting any public lands in these counties.
The following special rules apply during the
Special Fire Restriction period: No open fires allowed outside a
developed recreation site or designated fire safe area.Only lanterns and
portable stoves using gas, jellied petroleum or pressurized liquid fuel are
allowed outside of developed recreation sites or designated fire use areas.
A valid California campfire permit is required for all fires. Campfire permits are available free of charge
at any BLM, Forest Service, or CDF Office. Vehicles must stay on designated
roads. No smoking, except
inside an enclosed vehicle or designated fire-safe area. No welding or use of
any torch with an open flame, except by special permit. No use of explosives,
except by special permit. No operation of portable internal combustion engines
outside the hours of 5:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. Violations are punishable
by fines up to $1,000 and/or imprisonment for up to one year in jail. For
additional information contact BLM’s Folsom Field Office at 916-985-4474.