BOISE,
Idaho - With the threat of wildfire danger increasing throughout
southwest Idaho, local wildland fire management agencies will implement Stage 1
Fire Restrictions, effective August 1, 2016 beginning at 12:01 a.m. They will remain in effect until further
notice. These restrictions are intended to decrease the chance of any
preventable fires in the designated areas.
The identified areas going into Stage 1 Fire Restrictions include
private and public lands protected by the Boise National Forest, Boise District
BLM and State and Endowment Lands within:
·
Ada, Canyon, Gem, Payette, Elmore, Boise,
Valley and Washington Counties
·
Within Washington County all Bureau of
Reclamation Lands surrounding Mann Creek Reservoir
·
Within Valley County all Bureau of Reclamation
Lands surrounding Cascade Reservoir
·
Within Elmore and Boise Counties all Bureau of
Reclamation Lands surrounding Arrowrock and Anderson Ranch Reservoirs
Bureau of Reclamation Lands surrounding Manns Creek Reservoir are NOT under the
Stage 1 Fire Restrictioins. Those lands are under the protection of the Payette National Forest which is NOT part of the current Fire Restrictions.
Bureau of Reclamation Lands surrounding Manns Creek Reservoir are NOT under the
Stage 1 Fire Restrictioins. Those lands are under the protection of the Payette National Forest which is NOT part of the current Fire Restrictions.

Under
Stage 1 Fire Restrictions, the following acts are prohibited on the restricted
state and private forest and range lands, and federally managed lands, roads
and trails:
·
Building, maintaining, attending or using a
fire, campfire or stove fire except within an agency designated recreation site*
and only within an agency provided structure, or on a private citizen’s own
land and only within an owner-provided fire structure.
·
Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle,
building or designated recreation site, or while stopped in an area at least
three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable materials.
*A “designated recreation site” is a
recreation site that: 1) is included on
the individual National Forest’s list of areas where campfires are permitted;
and 2) which contains a Forest-provided fire ring. Campfires are not permitted at sites that do
not have a Forest-provided ring. The
list of approved sites is available at Ranger District offices or at: Boise
National Forest
Exemptions
for Stage 1 Areas:
·
Persons with a written permit that specifically
authorizes the otherwise prohibited act.
·
Persons using fire solely by liquid petroleum
or LPG fuels. Such devices, including
propane campfires, may be used only in an area cleared of flammable material.
·
Private landowners using charcoal (disposed of
properly) or propane barbecues on their own lands.
·
Persons conducting activities in those
designated areas where the activity is specifically authorized by written posted
notice.
·
Any federal, state or local officer or member
of an organized rescue or firefighting force, in the performance of an official
duty.
·
All land within a city boundary.
An exemption does not absolve an individual or organization
from liability or responsibility for any fire started by the exempted activity.
The maximum penalty for violating a fire restriction order
may differ depending on the agency: U.S. Forest Service - The maximum penalty
for violating the restriction order is $5,000 for individuals and $10,000 for
corporations and/or 6 months imprisonment.
BLM - Punishable by a fine of not more than $1,000 and/or imprisonment
for not more than 12 months. IDL - Misdemeanor and actual cost of suppression
Specific language pertaining to the restriction designated
areas follows:
Treasure Valley Fire Restrictions Zone – All of Ada, Canyon, Gem, Payette and
Washington Counties. Portions of Boise
County including the administrative boundary of Lucky Peak Lake to Arrowrock
Dam, south shore of Arrowrock Reservoir and that portion of Elmore County that
lies south of the South Fork Boise River to Anderson Ranch Dam, south along
Anderson Dam Road (FS Rd 134) to Highway 20, east on Highway 20 to the
Elmore/Gooding County line south to Interstate 84. The Treasure Valley Restriction area is
bounded by the Idaho/Oregon boundary to Oreana then follows the Bachman Grade
to Triangle and continues east-northeast of the Owyhee Front to the Bruneau
River. The northern boundary begins near
Weiser, Idaho and follows Highway 95 to Indian Valley, then generally follows
the Little Weiser River to the Payette and Boise National Forest boundary lines.
West Central Mountains Fire Restrictions
Zone – Boise National
Forest, Boise District BLM and State and Endowment Lands within Elmore County,
Boise County, and Valley County to include all Bureau of Reclamation Lands
surrounding Cascade Reservoir. From the
point where the Boise National Forest boundary intersects State Highway 20 near
Dixie following the Boise National Forest boundary west and north along the ridge
of the Danskin to Boise Front foothills and extending north encompassing the
Idaho Department of Lands to its intersection back with the Boise National
Forest boundary near Sagehen Reservoir.
The far northern boundary includes all Boise National Forest lands,
excluding the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness. All lands north of Sagehen Reservoir
including Tripod Mountain and West Mountain within the North Fork Payette River
drainage north to near Tamarack Resort.