GILLETTE, Wyo. — Federal land managers have implemented stage 1 fire restrictions in Crook, Niobrara, Weston, Goshen, and Platte counties, according to the U.S. Bureau of Land Management.
The fire restrictions were put into place for BLM-administered lands on June 26 due to dry conditions and increasing fire danger, the BLM said in a release.
Per the release, wildland firefighters and the BLM remind residents to be safe and responsible on public lands with Independence Day around the corner, requesting aid throughout the summer to prevent human-caused wildfires and keep Wyoming beautiful.
“Preventable wildfires threaten lives, property, and precious resources every year,” BLM High Plains District Fire Management Officer Craig Short said in a statement. “Firefighters are needed more than ever to keep Americans safe, so please, do your part to prevent human-caused wildfires.”
Under the stage 1 restrictions, residents may not build or maintain a fire outside of BLM-provided fire grates at developed recreation sites. They may build fires inside fully enclosed stoves with a quarter-inch spark arrester, within fully enclosed grills or in stoves using pressurized liquid or gas, the release states.
Smoking must occur in an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site, or while stopped in a barren area at least 3 feet in diameter that is clear of all flammable materials, per the BLM.
Operating a chainsaw without a USDA- or SEA-approved spark arrester, a chemical fire extinguisher not less than 8 ounces and one round-point shovel at least 36 inches long is prohibited.
Welders and acetylene torches, or other torches with open flames, are not allowed outside a cleared area at least 10 feet in diameter with a pressurized fire extinguisher on hand.
All stage 1 fire restrictions are in addition to the year-round wildfire prevention restrictions on federal lands in Wyoming. Year-round restrictions prohibit fireworks, incendiary or tracer ammunition, burning hazardous or explosive materials, operating any off-road vehicle without a spark arrester and explosives.
