Stage 2 Fire Restrictions take effect in Sierra Front

Due to critically dry fuels and increased wildfire danger, Stage 2 Fire Restrictions go into effect today, Monday, August 31, in western Nevada. These restrictions apply to:

• Public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Carson City District in Washoe, Storey, Churchill, Douglas, Lyon, and Hawthorne Counties.
• Washoe County private and county lands in the Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District (TMFPD).

Critical fire conditions

These restrictions are based on current fuel conditions and the need to protect the public and firefighters. Fine fuels across western Nevada remain extremely dry following prolonged hot, dry weather. These fine fuels can dry rapidly after receiving moisture and quickly return to a highly flammable state, capable of supporting rapid fire growth. 

In the Sierra Front region, more than half of all wildfires are human-caused, with most ignitions occurring later in the afternoon when temperatures are higher and vegetation is at its driest.

“With fuels this dry, preventing a wildfire ignition is our best opportunity to protect communities and firefighters,” said Adam Toomey, Hazardous Fuels Program Lead, U.S. Wildland Fire Service. “These restrictions are designed to reduce the risk of human-caused wildfires during a period of extreme fire danger while allowing some activities when conditions are less hazardous.

“This has already been a long and challenging fire season for our community and our firefighters, and we are only halfway through what is typically a demanding time of year,” said Fire Chief, Richard Edwards, Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District. “Fire conditions across our region remain extremely dangerous, and even a small ignition can quickly become a serious wildfire. Stage 2 restrictions are an important step in reducing the potential for human-caused fires. We ask everyone to know the restrictions where they are recreating, plan ahead and do their part to prevent wildfire.

Stage 2 Fire Restrictions

The following acts are prohibited under Stage 2 restrictions:

•  Building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire (using wood, charcoal or any other material), campfire, or stove fire except a portable stove using gas, jellied petroleum, or pressurized liquid fuel.
• Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site, or when stopped in an area at least 3 feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable material. 
• Operating motorized vehicles off existing roads. 
• Operating or parking motorized vehicles and equipment over or on top of dried/cured vegetation. 
• Welding, metal grinding, or operating an acetylene or other torch with open flame (except by permit). 
• The following acts are prohibited from 1:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. – Operating a chainsaw or other equipment powered by an internal combustion engine for felling, bucking, skidding, yarding, processing, road building and woodcutting during industrial operations or firewood gathering.
• Recreational target shooting is permitted only between sunrise and 1 p.m.
  • Shooters must have a chemical pressurized fire extinguisher of at least 8 ounces by weight.
  • Shooters must have a round-point shovel at least 36 inches long.
  • Licensed hunting activities are exempt.

Note: Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, Carson Ranger District target shooting restrictions are also in effect. 

Additional restrictions and exemptions

Fire restrictions can vary by jurisdiction and location. Visitors should check restrictions for their specific destination before recreating. A map of current restrictions and frequently asked questions is available at NevadaFireInfo.org/restrictions. 

BLM Nevada 

The following acts are prohibited year-round on all BLM-managed land in Nevada:

• Possessing, discharging, using, or allowing the use of fireworks, pyrotechnic or incendiary devices. 
• Possessing, discharging, igniting, or causing to burn; explosives or explosive material, including binary explosive targets. 
• Discharging a firearm using tracer, incendiary, or steel-component ammunition. [Use of tracer or incendiary ammunition are always prohibited on public lands].    
• Operating or using any internal or external combustion engine without a spark arresting devise properly installed, maintained and in effective working order (43 CFR 8343.1(c)). 

Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District (TMFPD)

In addition to the above Stage 2 Restrictions, the following are prohibited on private and county lands in Washoe County:

• Building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire outside of contained cooking devices (BBQs, smokers, pizza ovens, etc.) 
  • Exception: Enclosed cooking devices on private property in an established barbecue or campfire ring, clear of flammable vegetation, are currently permitted.
• Open burning remains. This includes pile burning and the use of burn barrels for the disposal of vegetation. Review full details of TMFPD’s outdoor burning restrictions. 
  • Open burning will reopen when conditions allow and TMFPD announces the start of the next burn season. 

As these activities could create or add to a hazardous situation, in accordance with Section 307.3 of the adopted fire code, TMFPD personnel have the authority to extinguish such fires on any property within the Fire District, and to issue citations for violating Stage 2 and the above restrictions, as well as issue potential citation or arrest for disobeying, resisting, interfering, or any conduct likely to interfere with the extinguishment of the fire (NRS 475.070).

Residents must understand that if they are found responsible for starting a fire that involves their disregard for these restrictions, they may be held responsible for the total cost of fighting the fire (NRS 474.550).

More information

Visit www.nevadafireinfo.org/restrictions for copies of Restriction Orders and more information, or email:

• BLM: [email protected]
• TMFPD: Kimberly Flores, [email protected]