SPARKS – Firefighter safety is at the forefront this fire season, and fire management officials are working to reduce personnel exposure to COVID-19 during the pandemic. Fire restrictions, intended to reduce the number of human-caused fires and thus the need for firefighter response, are effective throughout Nevada from April 15 until further notice. The mandate is a coordinated effort between the Nevada Division of Forestry, Bureau of Land Management, and U.S. Forest Service – Humboldt Toiyabe National Forest.
Campfires and smoking outside of vehicles are both prohibited under the restrictions. Fire restrictions prohibit the following:
- Igniting, building, maintaining, attending or using a fire (using wood, charcoal or any other material), campfire or stove fire except a portable stove using gas, jellied petroleum or pressurized liquid fuel.
- Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle, trailer, or building.
- The BLM also recommends a shovel, fire extinguisher and/or at least 5 gallons of water be on hand in the event of an unintentional fire start.
“Our concern regarding escaped campfires is not about dry fuel conditions at this time of year. We want to support a strong fire prevention program, limiting human-caused fires, to keep our firefighters healthy and ready for when we need them in the coming months,” said Forest Fire Management Officer Gwen Sanchez.
Violation of these prohibitions varies by agency but is punishable by fine and imprisonment.
Other federal and state cooperators including the Bureau of Land Management and the Nevada Division of Forestry are also enacting early fire restrictions and prevention orders. For a comprehensive list of these orders, please visit: https://www.nevadafireinfo.org/restrictions-and-closures.
Visitors are also urged to follow health guidance provided by the CDC during the COVID-19 pandemic. For tips from the CDC on preventing illnesses like the coronavirus, go to: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/prevention.html.
