Amador County – The U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management Mother Lode Office announces fire restrictions effective Monday, June 11.

Spokesman Jeff Fontana said BLM is implementing fire restrictions on all BLM-managed public lands within the Mother Lode Field Office boundary. This includes a total of about 230,000 acres of BLM-managed public lands in Amador, Nevada, Yuba, Placer, El Dorado, Sacramento, Calaveras, Tuolumne, Stanislaus, Sutter, and Mariposa counties. Fontana said the fire restrictions will remain in effect until further notice.

Fire Management Officer Gerald Martinez said the “restrictions prohibit all open fires on public lands because of extremely dry conditions.” He said “with the recent high temperatures, fuels are extremely dry.”

Campers are urged to be familiar with special limitations prior to visiting any public lands in the Mother Lode Field Office counties. A valid California campfire permit is required for all fires.

Campfire permits are available free of charge at any BLM, Forest Service, or California Department of Forestry Office, but campers need to be aware of restrictions in the area they are visiting.

Restrictions that apply include no open fires except in designated campgrounds, open fire stoves, lanterns and portable stoves using gas, jellied petroleum or pressurized liquid fuel. Welding or use of any torch with an open flame, is also prohibited, except by special permit.

No use of explosives is allowed, except by special permit. Operating internal combustion engines is also restricted, except on maintained roads. Firing tracers or incendiary devices capable of starting a fire are also restricted, as are fireworks.

Violations are punishable by fines up to $1,000 and/or imprisonment for up to one year in jail.

Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.