Inyo National Forest

News Release

US Forest Service

Inyo National Forest

Contacts: Nancy Upham, (760) 873-2427

Printable version

Bishop, August 15, 2008....As we reach the end of the summer vacation months, the Inyo National Forest and the Bishop Field office of the BLM want to remind everyone that the fire danger in the Eastern Sierra and throughout the state remains critical, and that we may still have several months of fire season ahead of us.

Fire restricions remain in effect below 9,000 feet in elevation on all Inyo National Forest lands, including wilderness areas, and all Bureau of Land Management public lands managed by the Bishop Field Office. Campfires, briquette barbeques, smoking, and use of acetylene or other torches and any kind of explosives, are restricted due to increased fire danger brought on by the hot, dry weather and extremely dry conditions.

The fire prevention patrols for the Forest Service and the BLM would like specifically to ask people to remember to be both careful and vigilant when visiting wildland areas. They have noticed many people smoking in unsafe situations and want to ask for cooperation in complying with the regulations that only allow smoking within an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site, or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable material. They would also like to remind people to not discard smoking materials in ANY type of vegetation.

The prevention patrols ask that if you see any suspicious activity in the woods report it immediately to the closest ranger station or visitor center. To report a fire please call the Interagency Dispatch Center at 873-2488.