Ely District Office
| Contacts: | Chris Hanefeld | , 775-289-1842 | , chanefel@blm.gov |
Recreating Public Urged to be Fire Aware
Eastern Nevada Interagency Fire Management urges the public to be aware and cautious when engaging in outdoor activities, especially when camping or cutting firewood.
“Eastern Nevada is extremely dry and the wildfires this season are exhibiting abnormal behavior,” Tye Petersen, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Ely District fire management officer, said Friday. The BLM is a member of the Eastern Nevada Interagency Fire Management team. Other members are Lincoln and White Pine counties, Forest Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, and National Park Service.
Petersen offered a few suggestions for fire-safe outdoor recreation.
Drive only on existing roads and trails. Stop periodically and check beneath your vehicle for brush and grass that can ignite and spread a wildfire, and unload and load your All-Terrain Vehicle in an open or cleared area.
Use approved campgrounds and keep campfires small and the surrounding area clear of brush and debris. Keep water and a shovel within easy reach and remember to drown the campfire and stir the ashes and check for heat.
To learn more, go to www.livingwithfire.info or call BLM Ely District Fire Management Officer Tye Petersen at (775) 289-1800.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land, the most of any Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. In Fiscal Year (FY) 2011, recreational and other activities on BLM-managed land contributed more than $130 billion to the U.S. economy and supported more than 600,000 American jobs. The Bureau is also one of a handful of agencies that collects more revenue than it spends. In FY 2012, nearly $5.7 billion will be generated on lands managed by the BLM, which operates on a $1.1 billion budget. 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.
Ely District Office 702 N. Industrial Way Ely, NV 89301