BLM asks visitors to use “Fire Sense” on public lands during Memorial Day weekend
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SALT LAKE CITY — With Memorial Day weekend approaching, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Utah asks the public to recreate responsibly and be mindful of the potential for wildfires as extremely dry conditions persist across the state.
BLM public lands provide excellent opportunities for visitors to enjoy America’s open spaces – and to reflect on the sacrifices made by the United States Armed Services veterans who died serving our country.
“On Memorial Day, we take time to remember and honor those men and women who gave their lives to protect our nation and the values we hold dear,” said Utah State Director Greg Sheehan. “If you do choose to get outside on your public lands over the weekend, please celebrate responsibly and use Fire Sense to help prevent wildfires.”
On May 26, the State of Utah, in partnership with the Bureau of Land Management, launched Fire Sense—an interagency fire prevention campaign created to encourage and inform people on how they can change behaviors to prevent wildfires in Utah. Over the last ten years, wildfire activity has been some of the most catastrophic in U.S. history: In 2020, more than 10.1 million acres burned throughout the country, which set a record for acres burned since accurate recording and data gathering began. Because the safety of our employees and the public remains paramount, the BLM reminds visitors to recreate responsibly and safely on Memorial Day weekend and throughout the remainder of the year by following our recreation tips.
- Do not leave campfires unattended. Completely extinguish campfires using the “drown, stir and feel” method. Do not leave until the site cold to the touch.
- Park away from and not on dry grass.
- Ensure tow chains are not dragging and tow straps are secured.
- Observe fire danger restrictions on BLM lands designated as high-risk early in this fire season.
- Ensure spark arresting devices are properly installed and maintained on all internal combustion engines.
- Fireworks and exploding target cannot be used on public lands. Follow fireworks restrictions and target shooting requirements. A listing of fire restrictions throughout BLM Utah is available at https://go.usa.gov/xH7Rd.
On May 18, the Utah State Director signed a Fire Prevention Order, which can be found at the BLM Utah Fire and Aviation webpage: https://www.blm.gov/programs/public-safety-and-fire/fire-and-aviation/regional-info/utah and the Utah Fire Info webpage: https://utahfireinfo.gov/.
Additional Resources:
- Wildfire information: https://www.nifc.gov/fireInfo/nfn.htm
- Fire Sense: www.utahfiresense.org
- Leave No Trace ethics: https://lnt.org/why/7-principles/
- Tread Lightly principles: https://www.treadlightly.org/learn/
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.