Fire restrictions on federal, state land lifted Monday

Fire restrictions on federal and state land will be lifted on Monday, according to information released by the Bureau of Land Management today.

The Bureau of Land Management , Carson City District Office, the Carson & Bridgeport Ranger Districts of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, and the Nevada Division of Forestry's Sierra Forest Fire Protection District announced the lifting of fire restrictions that have been in place since July 1, 2008.

Restrictions will expire at 12:01a.m., Monday morning.

"Decreasing daily sunlight, increased fuel moisture levels, and cooler temperatures are allowing us to lift fire restrictions," agency fire management officers said. "However, wildland vegetation remains flammable even though cooler weather is approaching. We encourage the public to continue enjoying their federal, state and private lands responsibly by being careful with any fire."

Campers wishing to build campfires on Carson & Bridgeport Ranger Districts of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest must have a campfire permit.

Officials said recreationists need to be fire safe with all their outdoor activities including insuring that their campfires are dead out. Leaving campfires unattended is a class B misdemeanor. Target practice, riding motorcycles/ATV's without a spark arrester, and careless smoking can all cause unwanted wildland fires. The use of propane stoves versus campfires and charcoal grill fires is still preferred in these dry conditions.

Fireworks are illegal to possess and use on Nevada's federal, state or local lands, and that open burning on private land still requires a permit from local fire departments.

For more information, please contact the BLM-Carson City Field Office, 885-6000; Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, 882-2766; or the Nevada Division of Forestry, 684-2500.