For Immediate Release
Date: May 16, 2008
Southern Nevada Fire Restrictions Announced
Contact list (alphabetical by agency)
Bureau of Land Management - Kirsten Cannon, (702) 515-5057
National Park Service - Roxanne Dey, (702) 293-8691
Nevada Division of Forestry, (702) 486-5123
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Glenn Gibson, (702) 515-5452
Las Vegas - On Friday, May 16, 2008 the Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, Nevada Division of Forestry and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are implementing Southern Nevada fire restrictions due to the high potential for wildland fires.
“The potential for wildland fires in Southern Nevada has recently increased due to increasingly high temperatures that are drying vegetation,” said Kevin Oliver, Bureau of Land Management Fire Management Officer.
The fire restrictions prohibit:
- Building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire, or stove fire, except a portable stove using gas, jellied petroleum or pressurized liquid fuel;
- smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle;
- welding, or operating an acetylene torch with open flames, except by permit;
- using, or causing to be used, any explosive, except by permit;
- using fireworks or firing a tracer – A reminder that fireworks of any kind are not allowed on public lands
The only exceptions to the restrictions are open campfires in developed recreation sites (such as a campground where a host is present or fee is charged); private propertyowners using an approved cooking or heating device in Mt. Charleston area;people with a permit specifically authorizing an otherwise prohibited act; and/or any federal, state, or local officer or member of an organized rescue or firefighting force in the performance of an official duty.
Lake Mead National Recreation Area will allow wood or charcoal fires in grills of developed picnic areas; campfires with wood or charcoal burning devises on the shoreline where natural vegetation is at least 100 feet from the shoreline; barbeque grills on private boats outside the harbors of Lake Mead and Lake Mohave; rental boats are authorized to use barbeques attached to vessel if allowed under rental boat agreement; all vessel barbeque fires must be at least 100 feet away from shoreline vegetation.
Bureau of Land Management is prohibiting the use of steel core ammunition. This form of ammunition is a known fire starter. The head of steel core ammunition is coated with copper and will spark on rocks which cause vegetation to ignite.
Southern Nevada has experienced two winters with below normal precipitation. “Following fire restrictions and developing defensible space on private property will help reduce the risk of a catastrophic wildland fire season,” Glenn Gibson, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Fire Management Officer.
In 2007, Southern Nevada wildland firefighters responded to 98 wildland fires which burned 1,133 acres.
“These restrictions should be taken seriously,” said Bob Trodahl, National Park Service Fire Management Officer. “Violations can result in a fine of up to $10,000 and a year in jail as well as the costs associated with resource damage, suppression costs, and injuries if found guilty.”
“Mojave Desert lands burned by wildland fire are more vulnerable to new fires because they become overgrown with invasive annual grasses,” said Oliver.
“Public lands should be enjoyed, but they must be enjoyed responsibly to reduce the number of human-caused fires,” said Mark Blankensop, Nevada Division of Forestry Fire Management Officer.
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The U.S. Forest Service will implement identical restrictions on May 23, 2008 across the Spring Mountains National Recreation Area (Mount Charleston) due significant elevation changes and vegetative conditions.
The public is urged to contact the local U.S. Forest Service office at (702) 515-5400, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at (702) 515-5450, National Park Service at (702) 293-8990, Bureau of Land Management at (702) 515-5000 or Nevada Division of Forestry at (702) 486-5123 if they have any questions or need clarification on the restrictions.
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