Tips to Avoid Starting a Wildland Fire While Out Recreating

The Public Lands You Save Belong to All of Us!

Every summer, due to extremely dry conditions on BLM public in western Nevada and eastern California, BLM staff ask that people out driving/riding all kinds of off-highway vehicles (4x4's, all terrain vehicles, motorcycles, etc.) take every precaution when traveling off-pavement.  Legally, here's what these recreationists visiting BLM managed lands are required to do:

*Do not build a fire, campfire, or stove fire (including NO charcoal fires) outside of a developed fee campground or picnic area except by permit (during periods of official fire restrictions, though this is good advice throughout the year); portable stoves using gas or pressurized liquid fuel are ok, but use them only in a cleared area and take great care when you light them;

*Do not smoke, except within an enclosed vehicle or at a developed campground or picnic area;

*Forget about welding or operating an acetylene torch with open flames, except by permit;

*No use of explosives is allowed, except by permit;

*Do not possess or use any fireworks, or any other incendiary device; turn them over to a sheriff's or fire department office for proper disposal;

*Do not use tracer rounds, steel-core ammunition or exploding targets while recreational shooting;

*No open burning (e.g. weeds, brush and yard debris) is allowed.

 In addition, for those riding on OHV's:

*Having a functioning spark arrester is always required - they are your best bet for keeping the particles from your engine's exhaust contained;

*Staying on established dirt roads & trails is the best policy at all times - cross-country travel (parking, turning around, random off-trail riding) is discouraged, but if necessary can be done with extreme caution - find un-vegetated areas to camp, park or turn around;

*Check under the vehicle frequently to remove grass, brush and leaf collection in the under-carriage, engine, exhaust and skid-plates of the vehicles (this also keeps noxious weed seeds from moving so easily to new areas!);

*Look behind and around often to ensure a fire has not been started inadvertently, and to be aware of other fires moving into your travel area;

*Many of us now carry a small fire extinguisher since electric or fuel fires or fires on the machine are the most common source of wildfire ignition; (they are quite inexpesnive compared to the cost of a vehicle fire or accidently setting a wildland fire); 

*Carry a cell phone and report smoke and wildland fires when observed - report your geographic location and the approximate location of the smoke (be aware that your 911 cell phone call may not be going to the nearest emergency responder, so provide information that can be relayed appropriately);

*Having an axe, shovel and at least one gallon of water are required when traveling in areas protected by the NDF and by the Sierra Fire Protection District - They require (during fire restrictions) that motorized vehicles must stay on hard packed gravel roads or dirt roads in the wildland areas west of Hwy 395 (Washoe, Carson and Douglas Counties), which is within the Sierra Fire Protection District, and in the Virginia City area (Storey County). 

 Wood cutters: you must have a permit to cut on BLM land; chainsaw use is only allowed from dawn to 1:00 p.m., a working spark arrester must be on your chain saw, plus a shovel or fire extinguisher are required for each chainsaw in use. 

 Target Shooters & Hunters:  use developed rifle, pistol & shotgun ranges for practice and to sight-in your guns.  If you must shoot on public land, please:

*Comply with county shooting ordinances - for example, Washoe County (NV) requires shooters and hunters to be a minimum of 1,000 feet from homes (even their own homes) for shotgun use, and 5,000 from homes for rifle/pistol use;

*Select a safe site - a sandy hill backdrop away from other roads and trails is best - avoid rocky and vegetated terrain;

*Be alert for other people that may be down-range, both near and far away - bullets can kill at long range;

*Public lands are used by livestock & wildlife, along with a growing number of recreationists on foot, horseback, mountain bikes and motorcycles/ATV's, so keep a sharp eye out for them;

*Use disposable targets such as cardboard or plastic jugs with sand in them;

*Do not shoot at glass, trees, powerlines, signs or abandoned refuse;

*Clean up after yourself after shooting - we're not your mother  - take a trash bag or box along with you and bag up all materials used as targets, shotgun shells and spent brass - leave every site cleaner than you found it.

Please call us at (775) 885-6000 if you have any further questions.  Please be fire safe while you have fun!