For Immediate Release         Date: May 16, 2006

Dry Conditions Trigger Fire Restrictions

Contact list (alphabetical by agency)
Bureau of Land Management – Kirsten Cannon – (702) 515-5057
National Park Service - Roxanne Dey - (702) 293-8947
Nevada Division of Forestry – Lisa Ortega - (702) 486-5123
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Linda Miller - (702) 515-5452
U.S. Forest Service – Beth Moore - (702) 839-5567      

Las Vegas, Nevada …. Effective Monday, May 15, the Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are implementing fire restrictions due to the high potential for wildland fires in the lower elevations.  “Conditions in southern Nevada are ripe for a catastrophic wildland fire due to increasingly high temperatures coupled with the extraordinary amount of dry grasses and other fuels that persisted from last year,” stated Kevin Oliver, BLM Fire Management Officer.  “People are encouraged to enjoy their public lands, but to do so responsibly.”

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. 

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.  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 U.S. 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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