No fireworks, charcoal fires allowed for Fourth at Mount Charleston

By Dave Toplikar

Wednesday, July 2, 2008 | 12:41 p.m.

If you're thinking about shooting off fireworks in the Mount Charleston area on the Fourth of July, forget it. Not only is there an extreme fire danger, you might be arrested or fined on the spot.

Metro Police, in cooperation with several federal, state and local law enforcement and public safety agencies will set up checkpoints throughout the Mount Charleston area on July 4.

The checkpoints will be randomly located on Kyle Canyon Road (State Route 157), Deer Creek Road (State Route 158) and Lee Canyon Road (State Route 156).

Authorities say they will be "aggressively enforcing all applicable laws and regulations." They say they plan to emphasize the prohibition of all fireworks — including the "safe and sane" variety — in the Mount Charleston and Lower Kyle Canyon areas.

Police say all visitors and residents should note the following:

— All fireworks prohibited on all federal lands, including the U.S. Forest Service and BLM properties.

-- Charcoal barbeques are prohited on all federal lands, including U.S. Forest Service and BLM properties. However, gas grills are allowed. Wood fires are permitted only in the fire pits that are provided a hosted, fee-for-entry campsites.

Police say the fire danger in the Spring Mountain National Recreation Area is currently rated as "EXTREME." That's because below-normal snowfall has produced very dry conditions and high winds have reduced the moisture content in desert and mountain vegetation.