BY TOM KOCAL for This is Laramie 815-275-3025 TKocal915@icloud.com
LARAMIE – Stage 1 fire restrictions go into effect today, June 16, for the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests and Thunder Basin National Grassland. This includes National Forest System lands located in Albany, Campbell, Carbon, Converse, Crook, Natrona, Niobrara, Platte, and Weston counties in Wyoming, and Garfield, Grand, Jackson, Moffat, Rio Blanco, and Routt counties in northwest Colorado.
Recent dry, windy, and hot weather conditions have resulted in an elevated potential for wildfires. Fire restrictions will help protect public health and safety, as well as natural resources.
Going into restrictions is not taken lightly by the Forest Service, and are necessary due to dry fuel conditions, persistent fire weather patterns, and the danger of human-caused wildfires from recreation usage across the Forests and Grassland.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service has coordinated with all affected counties, state agencies, and neighboring federal land managers on the timing of the restrictions.
The following prohibitions are in effect until further notice:
Building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire or stove fire. This includes barbecues, grills, and portable braziers. Personal, portable wood or charcoal burning fire pits/rings, often made of stainless steel, are not allowed under these restrictions. Campfires are only allowed in USDA approved and installed fire pits/grates, or gas-fueled devices with an on/off switch.
To clarify, building, maintaining, attending or using a fire is allowed in constructed, permanent fire pits or fire grates within developed recreation sites only.
The use of portable stoves, lanterns using gas, jellied petroleum, pressurized liquid fuel or a fully enclosed (sheepherder type) stove with a ¼” spark arrester type screen is also permitted.
According to the Forest Service, “any stove fueled by liquid petroleum – such as gas, white gas fuel, etc. – or liquid petroleum gas (LPG, propane, etc.), is OK under both Stage 1 and Stage 2.
“Stoves fueled by wood that are not being used in a building or vehicle are prohibited under both Stage 1 and 2.
”Smoking outdoors is restricted as well, except inside your vehicle or a building, at a developed recreation site, or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable material.
Operating a chainsaw is restricted, unless the chainsaw has a USDA or SAE approved spark arrester properly installed and in effective working order, a chemical pressurized fire extinguisher with a minimum rating of 2A is kept with the operator, and one round point shovel with an overall length of at least 35 inches is readily available for use.
Welding or operating acetylene or other torch with open flame is also restricted under Stage 1 conditions, except in cleared areas of at least 10 feet in diameter and in possession of a chemical pressurized fire extinguisher with a minimum rating of at least 2A.
Using any explosives are not allowed. In addition to the restrictions listed above and nearing the Fourth of July holiday, Forest users are reminded that under no circumstances are fireworks allowed on federally-managed lands.
Violation of these regulations is a serious offense, and is punishable as a class B misdemeanor, by a fine of not more than $5,000 for an individual or $10,000 for an organization, or imprisonment of not more than six months, or both. Anyone negligently or willfully starting a wild-land fire could also be held responsible for the costs of that fire.
Forest staff will continue to monitor conditions to assess the need for further action, including additional restrictions if weather remains hot and dry and lessening restrictions if a wetter weather pattern develops.
Call or visit your local office for site-specific information and any questions regarding clarification of the above restrictions.
In Wyoming:- Brush Creek-Hayden Ranger District, Saratoga, 307-326-5258
- Douglas Ranger District, Douglas, 307-358-4690
- Forest Supervisor’s Office & Laramie Ranger District, Laramie, 307-745-2300
In Colorado:
- Hahns Peak-Bears Ears Ranger District, Steamboat Springs, 970-870-2299
- Parks Ranger District, Walden, 970-723-2700
– Yampa Ranger District, Yampa, 970-638-4516
Additional information may be found at https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd554472.pdf or you can follow the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests and Thunder Basin National Grassland on social media: @FS_MBRTB on Twitter or @FSMBRTB on Facebook.