Fire restrictions going into effect

The danger of wildfire this summer means several restrictions will be in place on state and federal forest lands.

"We encourage the public to enjoy their state and federal lands, but to do so responsibly. We have experienced several fast spreading fires in the past two weeks and the potential for another devastating fire such as (last summer's) Waterfall and Andrew Lane is very real," said Pete Anderson, state forester firewarden.

Eighteen homes were lost in Carson City between July 14 and 16 last year, and on Aug. 25 a fast moving blaze in Washoe Valley on Andrew Lane consumed eight homes.

Local fire departments, the Carson City field office of the Bureau of Land Management, the Carson Ranger District of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, and the Nevada Division of Forestry's Sierra Fire Protection District will be initiating fire restrictions, due to the rapidly drying fuels.

The following activities are prohibited:

• Building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire, or stove fire except a portable stove using gas or pressurized liquid fuel, outside of a developed fee campground or picnic area except by permit.

• Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or at a developed campground or picnic area.

• Welding, or operating an acetylene torch with open flames, except by permit.

• Using or causing to be used, any explosive, except by permit.

• Firing a tracer, incendiary device or possessing/using fireworks. Fireworks are illegal in Nevada.

• Open burning of anything including weeds, brush and yard debris.

In addition, the Nevada Division of Forestry restrictions within the Sierra Fire Protection District prohibit operating vehicles or equipment off existing hard surface gravel roads or dirt roads in wildland areas.