Fire Restriction Information

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Urgent Information
Fire Restrictions in the Lake Tahoe Basin Effective Saturday, July 12!

South Lake Tahoe, CA. --The Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, US Forest Service will implement Fire Restrictions beginning Saturday, July 12, 2008. Campfires, including charcoal BBQs, are prohibited except in Developed Recreation Sites. The restrictions, enforceable by a Forest Order, limit campfires to only developed-fee recreation sites (campgrounds, camps and resorts),  restrict smoking, and establish other conditions to reduce the possibility of human-caused wildfires over an especially dry summer season. All residential burning in the Lake Tahoe Basin has already been suspended. The restrictions remain in effect through the end of the official 2008 fire season. The list below contains some of the prohibitions. Please read the entire Forest Order for a complete list of prohibitions pertaining to the Fire Restrictions.

• Charcoal fires (BBQs) allowed only in USFS-provided grills and at Recreation Residences. No personal charcoal BBQs within the forest (including beaches).
• No campfires allowed anywhere except in the exempted developed recreation sites (read the Forest Order). This means fires will no longer be allowed in Luther, Watson, and Blackwood campgrounds, nor in Meiss back-country.
• No smoking outside of vehicles or cleared areas of exempted recreation sites.
• Recreation Residences will not be allowed to have campfires. However, they may continue to have charcoal- or propane BBQs with a valid Campfire Permit.

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