Fire Restrictions Issued for Public Lands

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Spokane District has issued a fire restrictions order. The fire restrictions order includes prohibiting the building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire, including charcoal briquette fires, except when contained within provided metal rings.

The temporary ban will take effect July 22 at 12:01 a.m. for all counties including Chelan, Douglas, and  Okanogan. In addition to prohibiting some campfires, restrictions on the use of off-road vehicles, and smoking are also prohibited on public lands administered by the BLM and the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) in eastern Washington. A complete fire restriction order is attached to this release and can be found online at https://www.blm.gov/orwafire.

Fireworks and exploding targets are prohibited year-round on Federal lands.

• Building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire, campfire, or stove fire, including charcoal briquette fire. Exception: Campfires (including charcoal briquette fire) within BLM-provided steel rings at improved campgrounds will be deemed legal only at the Yakima River Canyon, Coffeepot, Chopaka, Washburn, Pacific Lake, and Twin Lakes sites. Liberty Campground will follow USFS restriction levels. Liquefied and bottled gas stoves and heaters are permitted provided they are used within an area at least 10 feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable material.

 Operating any type of motorized vehicle off developed roadways. Parking of vehicles off roadways must be done in an area barren of flammable materials. Developed roadways are those that are clear of flammable debris berm to berm. When operating a motorized vehicle on public lands, you must carry a shovel at least 26 inches in length with at least an eight-inch blade, and either a one-gallon container of water or a fully charged 2.5-pound fire extinguisher. All motorcycles and All-Terrain Vehicles must be equipped with a properly functioning U.S. Forest Service approved spark arrestor.

Smoking while traveling in timber, brush, or grass areas, except in vehicles on roads, or cleared areas at least 3 feet in diameter, or on boats on rivers and or lakes.

The following persons are exempt from this order:

Persons with a permit that specifically authorized the otherwise prohibited act or omission. Any federal, state, or local officer or a member of an organized rescue or firefighting force in the performance of an official duty.

The following acts are also prohibited:

Cause a fire, Fire a tracer or incendiary device (including fireworks);

 Leave a fire without extinguishing it, except to report it if it has spread beyond control.

 Enter an area which is closed by a fire prevention order; or perform any act restricted by this fire prevention order.

Any person who knowingly and willfully violates these regulations, upon conviction, be subject to a fine of not more than $1,000 or to imprisonment of not more than 12 months, or both (43 CFR 9212.4).