BLM encourages public to be cautious about continued fire danger

CARSON CITY, Nev, -The Bureau of Land Management, Carson City District would like to remind the public of continued fire danger and extremely dry conditions. The 2024 fire season has been active so far with a total of 67 fires, of which 46 were human caused. This includes fire suppression for the BLM Carson City District and Bureau of Indian Affairs lands across the Sierra Front.

“Normally the Carson City District has rescinded fire restrictions by now, however, this year has been extremely dry. The fuel moistures are currently at record lows for this time of year. said Jonathan Palma, Fire Management Officer. “We encourage the public to be conscientious when recreating about the continued fire danger which still exists.”

Stage 1 Fire restrictions prohibit the following until further notice:

l. Building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire (using wood, charcoal or any other material), campfire, or stove fire except a portable stove using gas, jellied petroleum, or pressurized liquid fuel outside of a developed fee campground or picnic area (except by permit).

2. Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site, or when stopped in an area at least 3 feet in diameter that is barren or cleared; of all flammable material.

3. Operating or parking a vehicle or other motorized equipment over or on top of dried/cured vegetation.

4. Welding, metal grinding, or operating an acetylene or other torch with open flame (except by permit).

STAGE I- Exemptions

An exemption does not absolve an individual or organization from liability or responsibility for any fire started by the exempted activity.

1. Persons with a written permit that specifically authorizes the otherwise prohibited act.

2. Persons using a fire solely fueled by liquid petroleum or liquified petroleum gas fuels. Such devices, including propane campfires, may be used only in an area cleared of flammable material.

3. Private landowners using charcoal (disposed of properly) or propane barbecues on their own lands.

4. Persons conducting activities in those designated areas where the activity is specifically authorized by written posted notice.

5. Any federal, state, or local officer or member of an organized rescue or firefighting force, in the performance of an official duty,

Additional Restrictions

Restrictions may vary across agencies and in different parts of Nevada. Always check specific restrictions for an agency before visiting. For a map of current restrictions and copies of Restriction Orders visit NevadaFireInfo.org/restrictions.

Current restrictions prohibit:

• Possessing, discharging, using, or allowing the use of fireworks, pyrotechnic or incendiary devices.
• Possessing, discharging, igniting, or causing to burn; explosives or explosive material, including binary explosive targets.
• Discharging a firearm using tracer, incendiary, or steel-component ammunition. (Use of tracer or incendiary ammunition are always prohibited on public lands.)   
• Operating or using any internal or external combustion engine without a spark arresting devise properly installed, maintained and in effective working order.

Recommendations

It is recommended when operating vehicles or equipment traveling on or using wildland areas to have at least an axe, shovel and one gallon of water and to carry cell phones while in the wildlands or national forests to report wildfires. 

As fire season continues individuals will be cited who do not comply with the posted restrictions. Violation of these prohibitions is subject to punishment by a fine and/or imprisonment (agency statutes vary). Persons may also be responsible for resource damage, suppression costs and any injuries that occur if they are found liable for causing a wildfire.

As a reminder, the following safety tips should be followed while target shooting:

• Refrain from shooting during hot, dry, and windy conditions. 
• Do not use incendiary or tracer ammo. Incendiary and tracer ammo are always prohibited on public lands.
• Place your targets on dirt or gravel areas clear of vegetation and avoid shooting into rocky areas. Placing a target in dry grass increases the risk of fire.
• Be aware that all types of ammunition can start fires under the right conditions, especially steel component ammunition.
• Bring a container of water. This may seem obvious, but shooters often fail to bring enough water to put a fire out. A five-gallon bucket of water readily available while shooting could prevent a disaster if a fire does start.
• Bring a shovel. Use the shovel to dig a trench around your targets before shooting to ensure that any fire caused by sparks can be easily contained.
• Shoot at quality steel targets designed to minimize risks to both the shooter and the environment. For steel targets to be functional and safe, they should be made of high quality through hardened steel that has a Brinell hardness number of at least 500. 
• Do not shoot trash. Trash like old couches and TVs can often be found illegally dumped on public land but can be dangerous fire hazards when shot.
• Please shoot responsibly and clean up after shooting.

Visit NevadaFireInfo.org to learn more about wildfire prevention, preparedness, and current fire restrictions. Stay up to date with a real-time map of current Nevada wildfires and wildfire cameras.