For Immediate Release             Date: May 19, 2005

Fire Restrictions Now in Effect

Contact list (alphabetical by agency)
Bureau of Land Management – Hillerie Patton – (702) 515-5046
National Park Service - Roxanne Dey - (702) 293-8947
Nevada Division of Forestry – John Jones - (702) 486-5123
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Lee Nelson - (702) 515-5450
U.S. Forest Service – Beth Short - (702) 839-5567      

Las Vegas, Nevada …. The Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, and Fish and Wildlife Service issued a fire restriction notice in Southern Nevada effective Thursday, May 19, 2005, due to the high potential for wildland fire in the lower elevations. “The significant amount of precipitation this last winter and early spring contributed to the extraordinary amount of grasses in the lower elevations,” stated Troy Phelps, BLM Assistant Fire Management Officer. “Conditions are such that any new fire ignition can develop into a catastrophic wildland fire.  People are encouraged to enjoy their public lands but to do so responsibility.”  

The fire restrictions prohibit:
• Building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire, or stove fire, except a portable stove using gas, jellied petroleum or pressurized liquid fuel
• Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle
• Welding, or operating an acetylene torch with open flames, except by permit
• Using, or causing to be used, any explosive, except by permit
• Using fireworks or firing a tracer – A reminder that fireworks of any kind are not allowed on public lands

Affected areas include all areas, roads, and trails on BLM Las Vegas Field Office managed lands, Desert National Wildlife Refuge Complex, and Lake Mead National Recreation Area.

The only exceptions are open campfires in hosted developed-recreation sites (such as a
campground where a host is present or fee is charged), private property owners using an approved cooking or heating device, people with a permit specifically authorizing an otherwise prohibited act and/or any federal, state, or local officer, or member of an organized rescue or firefighting force in the performance of an official duty.  However,
Lake Mead National Recreation Area is prohibiting all wood and charcoal fires in the park.  This includes campgrounds, picnic areas, and at the shorelines.

The U.S. Forest Service, Spring Mountains National Recreation Area and Nevada Division of Forestry are not issuing further fire restriction notices at this time, due to winter storms that created an unusual amount of snow fall in the mountains.  However, calendar restrictions are still in effect. Calendar restrictions prohibit campfires within one mile of homes in Kyle and Lee Canyons, Deer Creek, Cold Creek, Mountain Springs, and Trout Canyon.

Violation of these prohibitions is subject to punishment by a fine of not more than $10,000 and/or imprisonment of not more than one year (punishment varies slightly by agency.)   Persons may also be responsible for resource damage, suppression costs, and any injuries that occur if found liable for causing a wildfire.

The public is urged to contact the local Forest Service office at (702) 515-5400, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at (702) 515-5450, National Park Service at (702) 293-8990, the local BLM office at (702) 515-5000 or the Nevada Division of Forestry at
 (702) 486-5123 if they have any questions or need clarification on the restrictions.

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