Date: June 23, 2006
Contact: Cindy Wertz 307-775-6014
Kristen Lenhardt 307-775-6103

Fire Season Approaches

July 4th approaches and users of public lands are encouraged to be careful with fire while on Bureau of Land Management public lands.

Currently, the fire danger ranges from high to very high in the southern and central part of the state to moderate in the northern areas.

"We have the potential in the southern and central part of the state for large fires, so folks need to be careful when out on public lands," BLM State Fire Management Officer John Glenn said.

Recreationists need to be aware that numerous agencies and counties are going into fire restrictions. BLM has restrictions in several counties as well. To get up-to-date information on where fire restrictions are in place on BLM lands, visit http://www.wy.blm.gov/wy_fire_restrictions.

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.

Please follow these guidelines:

• Make sure campfires are “dead” out;
• Remember the 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.

-BLM-