Be careful with fire over Memorial Day weekend
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CHEYENNE. Wyo. — As Memorial Day weekend approaches the Bureau of Land Management and Wyoming State Forestry Division would like to remind everyone to celebrate Wyoming public lands and take precautions to prevent wildfires.
“Our firefighters are preparing for fire season, and they need your help to prevent human-caused wildfires” said Paul Hohn BLM Wyoming State Fire Management Officer, “About 87 percent of all wildfires across the nation each year are human caused, which means they are preventable. So as the weather warms up, we all need to do our part to protect our communities and natural resources. As you go outside with friends and family over the holiday weekend, please remember to practice fire safety.”
Wyoming State Forestry Division’s Fire Management Officer, Anthony Schultz notes that “Agencies across Wyoming have been preparing for the upcoming fire season, but we need the publics' assistance. Be sure to observe fire restrictions for areas you'll be recreating in and ensure campfires are extinguished completely.”
Human-caused wildfires can easily be prevented. For the safety of our firefighters and protecting Wyoming lands, here are some things to remember to prevent wildfires:
- If towing a boat or trailer, ensure your safety chains are properly secure and not dragging on the ground.
- Never park your vehicle over dead grass and avoid driving through tall grass—your vehicle can ignite the fuels and start a fire.
- When camping, never leave your campfire unattended. Ensure your campfire is “dead” out before leaving or turning in for the night. If your campfire is too hot to touch, it’s too hot to leave.
- Open fires and camping are not allowed on Wyoming State Trust Land.
- If target shooting, please take all the proper precaution measures to be fire-safe—select an area that is free of flammable materials and bring a fire extinguisher or water to extinguish any flames. Exploding targets and tracer ammunition is prohibited for use on all public lands (i.e. BLM surface lands) in Wyoming per the year-round wildfire prevention restrictions.
-BLM-
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.