Idaho Fire Restrictions Implemented

Southwest and Central Idaho, August 1

(Does not include Owyhee)

David Olson, PIO

Boise National Forest

BOISE, ID - With the hot, dry conditions and very high fire danger throughout southwest and central Idaho, local wildland fire protection agencies will implement Stage 1 Fire Restrictions, effective Thursday, August 1, 2013 beginning at 12:01 a.m.  The identified areas include private and agency lands protected by the Boise, Payette, and Sawtooth National Forests; Idaho Department of Lands (IDL) Forest Protection Districts, Southern Idaho Timber Protection Association, and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Field Offices within the areas listed below.  Stage 1 Fire Restrictions include the areas listed below:

·         All private, State, and BLM protected lands outside incorporated city limits within Ada, Boise, Canyon, Elmore, Gem, Owyhee, Payette, Washington counties, and portions of Idaho, Adams, Valley, Custer, Elmore, Camas and Blaine counties;

·         All Boise National Forest lands within Boise, Elmore, Gem and Ada counties, and a portion of Valley County;

·         All Payette National Forest lands (excluding the Frank Church Wilderness) within Adams, Washington and portions of Idaho and Valley Counties;

·         All Sawtooth National Forest lands within Elmore and Camas counties, and portions of Blaine and Custer counties.

For a detailed map and information, visit:  http://www.idahofireinfo.blm.gov/southwest/firerestrictions.htm.

Stage 1 Fire Restrictions will remain in effect until further notice.  The restrictions are being implemented by federal and state agencies providing wild land fire protection in the area, including the BLM, Boise National Forest, Payette National Forest, 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 Main 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.