BLM fire officials increase public use restrictions in eastern Washington
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SPOKANE, WA - Due to dangerous fire conditions across public lands in eastern Washington, fire officials for the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Spokane District will implement additional public use restrictions on all lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) in these eastern Washington counties: Adams, Asotin, Benton, Chelan, Columbia, Douglas, Ferry, Franklin, Garfield, Grant, Kittitas, Klickitat, Lincoln, Okanogan, Pend Oreille, Spokane, Stevens, Walla Walla, Whitman, and Yakima counties.
“Hot, dry, and windy conditions in addition to the frequency of human caused wildfires have made it necessary to increase the level of public use restrictions across lands administered by the District,” stated BLM’s Fire Management Officer Lonnie Newton. “We hope that everyone will do their part to minimize the potential for additional wildfires by following these temporary public use restrictions.”
Effective Friday, Aug. 25 at 12:01 a.m., all campfires, or any other type of open fire, including the use of charcoal briquettes, are banned. Discharging of firearms is also prohibited, except while engaged in lawful hunt pursuant to state, federal or tribal law and regulations. Please visit: www.wheretoshoot.org for alternative recreational target shooting locations.
Additionally, smoking is only allowed while inside a vehicle or while stopped in an area at least three (3) feet in diameter that is clear of flammable vegetation. Operating an off-road vehicle or motorized vehicle, or parking off the road (including motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles) is only allowed on roadways clear of flammable vegetation.
Fireworks are always prohibited on public lands.
The expanded public use restrictions are in addition to the annual fire order issued for all public lands administered by the agency to help reduce the risk of wildfires and protect communities. The annual fire prevention order covering BLM lands in Oregon and Washington and the expanded fire order, effective Aug. 25, can be found here: https://www.blm.gov/programs/public-safety-and-fire/fire-and-aviation/regional-info/oregon-washington/fire-restrictions
Violating public use public use restrictions can result in fines up to $100,000 and/or imprisonment of up to one year. Individuals causing a wildfire can also be held responsible for damages and fire suppression costs.
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.