Southern Nevada District Office
| Contacts: | Kirsten Cannon | , 702-515-5057 | , kirsten_cannon@blm.gov |
Southern Nevada Fire Restrictions Announced
Contact list (alphabetical by agency)
Bureau of Land Management: Kirsten Cannon, 702-515-5057
National Park Service: Andrew S. Muñoz, 702-293-8691
Nevada Division of Forestry: Mark Blankensop, 702-486-5123
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: Dan Balduini, 702-515-5480
U.S. Forest Service: Judy Suing, 702-839-5563
Las Vegas - On Wednesday, May 20, 2009 the Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, National Park Service, Nevada Division of Forestry, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and U.S. Forest Service are implementing Southern Nevada fire restrictions due to the high potential for wildland fires.
“Public lands should be enjoyed, but they must be enjoyed responsibly to reduce the number of human-caused fires,” said Kevin Oliver, Bureau of Land Management Fire Management Officer.
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.
The only exceptions to the restrictions are open campfires in 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 in Mt. Charleston area; 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.
Lake Mead National Recreation Area will allow wood or charcoal fires in grills of developed picnic areas; campfires with wood or charcoal burning devises on the shoreline where natural vegetation is at least 100 feet from the shoreline; barbeque grills on private boats outside the harbors of Lake Mead and Lake Mohave; rental boats are authorized to use barbeques attached to vessel if allowed under rental boat agreement; all vessel barbeque fires must be at least 100 feet away from shoreline vegetation.
Bureau of Land Management is prohibiting the use of steel jacket ammunition. This form of ammunition is a known fire starter. The jacket of steel core ammunition is coated with copper and will spark on rocks which cause vegetation to ignite.
Southern Nevada has experienced above average winter precipitation at lower elevations this year and average precipitation at higher elevations. “Following fire restrictions and developing defensible space on private property will help reduce the risk of a catastrophic wildland fire season,” said Marty Woods, U.S. Forest Service Fire Management Officer.
In 2008, Southern Nevada wildland firefighters responded to 108 wildland fires which burned 374 acres.
“The potential for wildland fires in Southern Nevada has recently increased due to increasingly high temperatures that are drying vegetation,” said Mark Blankensop, Nevada Division of Forestry Fire Management Officer.
“These restrictions should be taken seriously,” said Glenn Gibson, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Fire Management Officer. “Violations can result in a fine of up to $10,000 and a year in jail as well as the costs associated with resource damage, suppression costs, and injuries if found guilty.”
“Mojave Desert lands burned by wildland fire are more vulnerable to new fires because they become overgrown with invasive annual grasses,” said Aaron Baldwin, National Park Service Acting Fire Management Officer.
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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,
Bureau of Land Management at 702-515-5000 or Nevada Division of Forestry at 702-486-5123 if they have any questions or need clarification on the restrictions.
The BLM manages more land - 253 million acres - than any other Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The Bureau, with a budget of about $1 billion, also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. The BLM's multiple-use mission is to sustain the health and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. The Bureau accomplishes this by managing such activities as outdoor recreation, livestock grazing, mineral development, and energy production, and by conserving natural, historical, cultural, and other resources on public lands.
Southern Nevada District Office 4701 N. Torrey Pines Drive Las Vegas, NV 89130