Fire restrictions imposed early on public lands in Nevada

By Mary Manning

Friday, May 16, 2008 | 10:33 a.m.

With 100-degree temperatures possible and dry grasses covering Southern Nevada, federal agencies initiated fire restrictions today because of a high potential for wildlfires.

"The potential for wildland fires in Southern Nevada has recently increased due to increasingly high temperatures that are drying vegetation," said Kevin Oliver, Bureau of Land Management fire management officer.

Mojave Desert lands burned by fire are more vulnerable to new fires because they become choked with invasive annual grasses, Oliver said.

Southern Nevada has had two winters with below normal rain and snowfall, federal officials said. "Following fire restrictions and developing defensible space on private property (such as cabins) will help reduce the risk of a catastrophic wildland fire season," said Glenn Gibson, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service fire management officer.

In 2007 Southern Nevada wildland firefighters responded to 98 wildfires which burned 1,133 acres.

"These restrictions should be taken seriously," said Bob Trodahl, National Park Service fire management officer. "Violations can result in a fine of up to $10,000 and a year in jail as well as the costs associated with resource damage, suppression costs and injuries if found guilty."

A week from today, the U.S. Forest Service will launch identical restrictions across the Spring Mountains National Recreation Area, including Mount Charleston.

The fire restrictions include building or using a fire, campfire or stove fire, except a portable stove using gas, jellied petroleum or pressurized liquid fuel; smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle; welding or operating an acetylene torch with open flames, except by permit; using or causing the use of any explosive, except by permit; using fireworks or firing a tracer. Fireworks of any kind are banned on public lands.

Lake Mead National Recreation Area will allow wood or charcoal fires in grills of developed picnic areas, campfires with wood or charcoal burning devices on the shoreline where natural brush is at least 100 feet from the shoreline, barbeque grills on private boats outside the harbors of Lake Mead and Lake Mohave; rental boats are allowed to use barbeques on a vessel if included in an agreement and all vessel barbecue fires must be at least 100 feet away from shoreline brush.

The Bureau of Land Management is also banning the use of steel-core ammunition, a known fire starter. The head of a steel core bullet is coated with copper and will spark on rocks which cause vegetation to ignite.

"Public lands should be enjoyed, but they must be enjoyed responsibly to reduce the number of human-caused fires," said Mark Blankensop, Nevada Division of Forestry fire management officer.