January 27, 2006
Contact: Lesley A. Collins
307-261-7603

Fire Awareness this Winter

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Casper, Buffalo and Newcastle Field offices are urging public land users to be careful with fire while on public lands this winter.

Even with the cooler temperatures and added moisture caution is still needed when recreating on public lands. While no special fire restrictions currently exist on BLM managed lands within Wyoming, everyone needs to be extra careful with fire.

The following guidelines are recommended:

• Make sure campfires are “dead” out;
• Remember that fireworks are prohibited on BLM lands in Wyoming;
• Travel and camp with a shovel, fire extinguisher, and ample water;
• Attempt to confine smoking within a vehicle or cleared area,
• Report all wildfires immediately.

In Northeastern Wyoming where the snow cover has melted the fire danger is rated as high. Information on fire conditions, restrictions, and weather can be obtained from the Casper Interagency Dispatch Center’s website at: www.fs.fed.us/r2/fire/cpc/cpc.htm.

BLM has year-round fire restrictions on public lands that it manages. These prohibitions include:

• discharge or use of any fireworks;
• discharge of a firearm using incendiary or tracer ammunition;
• burn, ignite or cause to burn any tire, wire, magnesium, or any other hazardous or explosive material;
• operate any off-road vehicle on public lands unless the vehicle is equipped with a properly installed spark arrester.

For more information call the BLM office at 307-261-7600.

-BLM-