Elko: Interagency Fire Management Team Reminds Public of Fire Season Severity

ELKO, Nev. – The Elko District Interagency Fire Management Team would like to remind the community of the extreme dry weather conditions prevalent in northeastern Nevada.

“Due to the above normal precipitation this spring, the conditions in Elko County and throughout northeastern Nevada has seen significant grass grow that is extremely dry and more susceptible to fires than recent years,” said Mike Ford, Northeast Nevada Interagency Fire Management Officer.

The Nevada Division of Forestry (NDF) in conjunction with Eureka County Fire Protection District closed all controlled burning in the unincorporated areas of Eureka county as of July 1 and NDF will close all controlled burning in unincorporated areas of Elko County as of July 11. This includes yard trimmings, limbs and brush piles.

“The Nevada Division of Forestry will be monitoring conditions and further restrictions may be implemented during the summer months throughout the county,” said Tim Woolever, Fire Management Officer, Nevada Division of Forestry, Elko. “New permit numbers will be required when the fall moisture returns.”

The public is asked to assist fire crews this summer in taking precautions to minimize fire risk. As a reminder, fireworks are illegal on public land. Some precautions to take include:

• Never leave a campfire unattended and always make sure they are dead out. Extinguish all campfires completely and stir ashes to make sure no hot coals remain.
• When using a campfire, dig a pit and use a fire ring.
• Dispose of cigarettes in proper containers away from any flammable material. Do not throw cigarettes out of moving vehicles.
• If off-road vehicle use is allowed, internal combustion equipment should have a spark arrester. Avoid driving though dry vegetation.
• Never use stoves, lanterns or heaters inside a tent.
• Store flammable liquid containers in a safe place.
• Do not shoot any tracer bullets or incendiary ammunition.
• Shoot only at cardboard or paper targets, manufactured metallic targets or manufactured
  thrown-type clay targets.
• Remember, shots fired across open desert can travel more than a mile.
• At the first sign of a wildfire, leave area immediately by established trails or roads. Contact Elko Interagency Dispatch Center at 775-748-4000, or 911.

The BLM would like to thank the public to date for diligently reporting smoke and fires. When reporting fires, please follow these guidelines to ensure quick access and assessment of the situation:

• Provide a landmark, or mile marker if on a paved thoroughfare.
• Compass direction of the smoke from your position.
• How high is the smoke, what color is it?
• Are flames visible? 

The Interagency Fire Management team wants to remind everyone that wildfire survival takes a community. For further information on how you can assist, visit www.livingwithfire.info.