BLM Urges Prevention of Human Caused Wildfires

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Carson City District would like to remind the community to be aware of the increased chance of wildfire due to conditions resulting from low precipitation this past winter and recent warmer temperatures. 

“The potential for catastrophic wildfire is a real threat this year.” said Shane McDonald, Interagency Fire Management Officer.  “Recently we have seen extreme burning conditions for this time of year with the Hunter Falls fire which prompted federal and state agencies to enact fire restrictions in some areas. There is concern with the sudden increase of human caused wildfires on public lands in the past 10 days.” 

McDonald encourages the public to be careful in regards to human-caused fires and take appropriate steps to prevent them. In situations such as the anticipated high wind days, the BLM and other firefighting agencies rely heavily upon the public to make sensible decisions in regards to fire on public and private land.

The following precautions should be taken:

• Never leave a campfire unattended. Extinguish all campfires completely and stir ashes to make sure no hot coals remain and always make sure they are dead out.
• Dispose of cigarettes in proper containers away from any flammable material.
• If off-road vehicle use is allowed, internal combustion equipment should have a spark arrester.
• Avoid driving though dry vegetation or parking your vehicle in high grass or dry vegetation.
• Never use stoves, lanterns or heaters inside a tent.
• Store flammable liquid containers in a safe place.
• Do not shoot tracer bullets or incendiary ammunition.
• Do not shoot in areas of dry fuels especially in times of extreme conditions such as Red Flag Warnings (critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now or will shortly. A combination of strong winds, low relative humidity and warm temperatures will create explosive fire growth potential), or a Fire Weather Watch (critical fire weather conditions are forecast to occur). Both issued by the National Weather Service.
• Shoot only at cardboard or paper targets or manufactured thrown-type clay targets. 
• Remember, shots fired across open desert can travel more than a mile and can cause a wildfire.
• At the first sign of a wildfire, contact Sierra Front Interagency Dispatch Center at 775-883-5995 or call 911.

McDonald stated, “Agencies will be closely monitoring conditions as they evaluate the need for further fire restrictions.”

In 2014, there have been six human caused fires and approximately four acres burned on public lands within the Carson City BLM District.

For more information contact Lisa Ross at 775-885-6107, or for current fire restrictions go to http://www.blm.gov/nv/st/en/fo/carson_city_field.html.