BLM, Forest Service, NDF, BI and USFWS Lifting Western Nevada Fire Restrictions on Tuesday, 9/2/2014

• Bureau of Land Management, Carson City District,Contact: Lisa Ross, 775-885-6107
• Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest: Contact: Carson Ranger District, 775-882-2766
• Bridgeport Ranger District, 760-932-7070
• Nevada Division of Forestry, Western Region, Contact: Jo Ann Kittrell, 775-684-2712
• U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Contact: Carl Lunderstadt, 775-423-5128, Ext. 235
• Bureau of Indian Affairs, Western Nevada Agency, Contact: Gerry Emm, 775-887-3500

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Carson City District Office, the Carson and Bridgeport Ranger Districts of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest (USFS), U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS), Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), and the Nevada Division of Forestry (NDF) announce the lifting of fire restrictions that have been in place since May 30, 2014. Restrictions will expire at 12:01 a.m., Tuesday morning, September 2, 2014.

Campfires still require a campfire permit on the Carson & Bridgeport Ranger Districts of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest. Also, Carson Ranger District will end “Hoot Owl” firewood cutting restrictions for all of its woodcutting areas.

"Decreasing daily sunlight, increasing fuel moisture levels, and cooler evening temperatures are allowing us to lift fire restrictions," note the agency Fire Management Officers. "However, the potential threat for wildfires remains, so we encourage the public to continue enjoying their federal, state, and private lands responsibly by being very careful with any fire.”

“Due to the amount of moisture received this summer there has been a renewed growing season,” said Shane McDonald, Interagency Fire Management Officer. “We ask that as the new crop of grass begins to dry, the land users will be mindful of the potential increased risk of wildfire.”

Recreationists are reminded to be fire safe with all their outdoor activities, including insuring that campfires are dead out. Leaving campfires unattended is a class B misdemeanor. Other important reminders for all outdoor enthusiasts include the following: 

1. Exploding targets including Binary Explosive Targets while recreational shooting is prohibited at all times.
2. Target shooting - use of tracer rounds and steel-core ammunition can greatly increase the chance of a wildfire.
3. Riding motorcycles/ATVs without a spark arrester and careless smoking can all cause unwanted wildland fires.
4. The use of propane stoves versus campfires and charcoal grill fires is still preferred in these dry conditions.
5. Fireworks are alwaysillegal to possess and use on all federal and Nevada’s state and private lands.
6. Firewood cutters must have a chainsaw with a functioning, approved spark arrester screen on the exhaust.
7. Open burning on private land still requires a permit from local fire departments.

For more information, please contact the BLM-Carson City Field Office at 885-6000; the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest at 882-2766 in Carson, and at 760-932-7070 in Bridgeport; the NDF at 684-2500, the BIA at 775-887-3500, and the USFWS at 775-423-5128.