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EL DORADO HILLS, Calif. - As you pack up the family for an outdoor adventure on public lands  this holiday weekend, the Bureau of Land Management Mother Lode Field Office would like to remind you to please help reduce the chance of starting a fire as you travel.

A loose safety chain on a camp trailer or boat dragging on the pavement could send sparks into dry vegetation along the road. You can reduce the chances of igniting a wildfire by greasing your trailer wheels, checking tires and ensuring that safety chains are not touching the ground.

“Public land parcels are scattered throughout the Sierra Foothills and the majority of the land is next to subdivisions, shopping malls and homes.” states Bill Haigh, BLM Mother Lode field manager. “If a wildfire ignites on public lands, then lives and property can be threatened.”

With that in mind, here are a few additional suggestions to avoid sparking a wildfire:

• Clean and maintain equipment. When off-highway vehicles are driven over vegetation, brush and grass frequently accumulate around their exhaust systems and ignite, spreading fire as the vehicle travels. A faulty spark arrestor can shed hot metal. Poorly lubricated wheel bearings can overheat and ignite and worn brakes can drop hot material into the grass.
• Keep vehicles off dry grass. Vehicle exhaust systems are notorious fire starters.  If a driver pulls off the road into dry grass at the side of the road, the red-hot catalytic converter on the exhaust may contact the vegetation and set the roadside vegetation ablaze. 
• Off-highway travelers should carry a shovel and a fire extinguisher and never drive over vegetation.
• Follow all public-use restrictions and access closures. Check with local agencies about any closures before venturing off road.

Approximately 90% of all wildfires in California are caused by people. Remember One Less Spark Means One Less Wildfire. Visit www.preventwildfireca.org/OneLessSpark for more information.