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"Stage 1" Fire Restrictions now in force in
North Idaho
No burn permits being
issued, campfires restricted, and more |
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July 1, 2015 |
 With
the threat of wildfire danger increasing rapidly
throughout many parts of northern and central
Idaho, local land management agencies
implemented Stage 1 Fire Restrictions, which
officially began at 11:59 p.m. on June 30, 2015.
Stage 1 Fire Restrictions will remain in effect
until further notice. Fire restrictions are
intended to decrease the chance of any
preventable fires in the designated areas.
In Bonner and Boundary Counties, the
restrictions will be in effect at all lands
below 3,000 foot elevation.
Under the Stage 1 Fire Restrictions, the
following acts are prohibited on the restricted
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, or on their own
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.
Conditions in the area are bad enough that burn
permits are no longer being issued. "At this
time, no permits for any type of burning are
being approved due to current and forecasted
fire weather and forest fuels conditions.
Certain types of agricultural burning may be
approved on a case by case basis," said Ken
Homik of the Idaho Department of Lands, who
serves as Fire Warden for the Kootenai Valley
Forest Protective District.
There are limited exemptions to the Stage 1 Fire
Restrictions, which include:
• Persons with a written permit that
specifically authorizes the otherwise prohibited
act.
• Persons using fire fueled solely by liquid
petroleum or 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.
With the upcoming Fourth of July weekend and the
extreme temperatures the Region is experiencing,
fire managers are asking the public to be extra
cautious when spending time in the outdoors.
Idahoans are also reminded that fireworks are
prohibited on forest and range lands in Idaho
during closed fire season (May 10 through
October 20).
Please visit
http://idahofireinfo.blogspot.com for
current information regarding fire restrictions
or contact the local land management office.
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