Fire Restrictions Expanded in Southern Idaho

The following information is from the Sawtooth National Forest:

TWIN FALLS, ID – As south central Idaho continues to experience  hot, dry conditions and very high fire danger, local wildland fire protection agencies will extend Stage 1 Fire Restrictions on public lands south of Interstate 84, effective Thursday, August 22, 2013 beginning at 12:01 a.m.

This is in addition to the fire restrictions that are currently in effect for areas north of Interstate 84. The identified areas include private and agency lands protected by the Sawtooth National Forests; Idaho Department of Lands (IDL) Forest Protection Districts, and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Field Offices within the areas listed below.  Stage 1 Fire Restrictions include the areas listed below:

• All private, and State protected lands outside incorporated city limits within Twin Falls, Cassia, Lincoln, Jerome, Minidoka, Blaine, Camas, Gooding, portions of Oneida, and Power counties.
• All BLM lands within these counties: Twin Falls, Cassia, Lincoln, Jerome, Minidoka, Blaine, Camas, Gooding, portions of Oneida, and Power.
• All Sawtooth National Forest lands within Cassia, Twin Falls, Power, Oneida, and Box Elder counties.

For a detailed map and information, visit:  http://www.blm.gov/id/st/en/prog/fire/restrictions.html

Stage 1 Fire Restrictions will remain in effect until further notice.  The restrictions are being implemented by federal and state agencies providing wildland fire protection in the area, including the BLM, Sawtooth National Forest, and Idaho Department of Lands.  These restrictions are intended to decrease the chance of any preventable fires in the designated areas.

Under State 1 Fire Restrictions, the following acts are prohibited on the restricted state and federally managed lands, roads and trails:

• Building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire, stove fire except within an agency designated recreation site and only within an agency provided structure, or on a private citizen’s own land and only within an owner-provided permanent 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.

Following are exemptions to the Stage 1 Fire Restrictions:

• Persons with a written permit that specifically authorizes the otherwise prohibited act.
• Persons using fire solely by liquid petroleum or LPG fuels.  Such devices, including propane campfires, may be used 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.
• Persons using metal fire pans within ¼ mile of the South side Salmon River west of the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness to the confluence of the Little Salmon River.
• Other exemptions unique to each agency.