News Release
DATE: August 1,2018 CONTACT:
Sharla Arledge (IDL)- 208-334-0233
Kelsey
Brizendine (BLM)- 208-732-731
Julie Thomas (Forest)-208-423-7500
Stage 1 Fire
Restrictions ordered for south central Idaho
SHOSHONE, Idaho-- As the threat of
wildfire danger continues to increase, state and federal land management
agencies will implement Stage 1 Fire
Restrictions on lands within south central Idaho effective August 3, 2018
at 12:01 a.m. Fire restrictions are intended to decrease
the chance of any preventable fires in the designated areas.
Stage 1 fire restrictions will be in place
on federal, state and private forest and rangelands, roads, and trails,
situated in Blaine, Camas, Cassia, Custer,
Elmore, Gooding, Jerome, Lincoln, Minidoka, Owyhee, and Twin Falls counties.
These restrictions
are being implemented by agencies managing or providing wildland fire
protection, which include the Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls District Bureau of Land Management
and the Idaho Department of Lands (IDL). These restrictions are separated into Zones
and described as follows:
Zone
1 – Sawtooth North
All Sawtooth National Forest, Twin
Falls District BLM, and Idaho State lands north of Highway 20 to the northern
most Sawtooth National Forest boundary.
From Hill City east to the Craters of the Moon National Monument and
Reserve Visitor Center.
Zone 2 -- Shoshone
All Twin Falls
District BLM and Idaho State lands north of I-84 to Highway 20. From King Hill
east to Massacre Rocks State Park.
Zone 3 -- Three Creek
All Twin Falls
District BLM and Idaho State lands from I-84 south to Idaho/Nevada border. West
of Highway 93 to the Bruneau Canyon
Zone
4 – Cassia
All Twin Falls District BLM and
Idaho State lands from I-84/I-86 south to Idaho/Utah/Nevada border. East of
Highway 93 to the Cassia County/Oneida County line. All lands administered by
the Minidoka Ranger District, Sawtooth National Forest.
**National Park Service managed units including Craters of
the Moon National Monument and Preserve, Hagerman Fossil Beds National
Monument, and Minidoka National Historic Site are also under Stage 1 Fire
restrictions
Under the Stage 1
Fire Restrictions, the following acts are prohibited on state and federally
managed or protected lands, roads, and trails:
·
Building,
maintaining, attending, or using a fire, campfire or stove fire except within a designated recreation
site and in a permanent concrete or metal fire ring, or on private land, and
only within an owner-provided 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.
The following are
exemptions to the Stage 1 Fire Restrictions:
·
Persons
with a written permit that specifically authorizes the otherwise prohibited
act.
·
Persons
using fire fueled solely by liquid petroleum or liquid petroleum gas (LPG)
fuels. Such devices, including propane
campfires, may be used only in an area cleared of flammable material.
·
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 is exempted.
·
Other
exemptions unique to each agency.
Fire
managers are asking the public to be extra cautious when spending time in the
outdoors. As a reminder, fireworks are
prohibited on state and private forestland and rangeland during closed fire
season (May 10 through Oct. 20), and on public lands, roads and trail in Idaho
all times of the year.
Controlled
burning restrictions may be in place due to air quality through the Idaho
Department of Environmental Quality. Information about DEQ burn bans is
available here: http://deq.idaho.gov/air-quality.aspx. The IDL fire safety burn permit is
required during closed fire season, and local burn permits may be as well. To
obtain permits for controlled burning activities, visit: http://www.burnpermits.idaho.gov
For more
information about Stage 1 fire restrictions and to view an interactive map,
visit http://www.idahofireinfo.com/
With the
fire season well underway, these restrictions are intended to keep visitors to
public lands safe as well as prevent dangerous and damaging wildfires. If you are planning a visit to public lands in these
areas, please check with the Sawtooth Ranger District offices https://www.fs.usda.gov/sawtooth, the BLM Twin Falls District BLM https://www.blm.gov/idaho
or the Idaho Department of Lands for the latest information.
# # #
