LAS VEGAS — On Saturday, May 15, 2010 the Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, National Park Service, Nevada Division of Forestry, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and U.S. Forest Service are implementing Southern Nevada fire restrictions due to the increased potential for wildland fires.

“Public lands should be enjoyed, but they must be enjoyed responsibly to reduce the number of human-caused fires,” said Chris Delaney, Bureau of Land Management Acting Fire Management Officer.

The fire restrictions prohibit:

• Building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire, or stove
  fire, except a portable stove using gas, jellied petroleum or pressurized
  liquid fuel;
• Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle;
• Welding, or operating an acetylene torch with open flames, except by
  permit;
• Using, or causing to be used, any explosive, except by permit;
• Using fireworks or firing a tracer

The only exceptions to the restrictions are open campfires in developed recreation sites (such as a campground where a host is present or fee is charged); private property owners using an approved cooking or heating device in Mt. Charleston area; people with a permit specifically authorizing an otherwise prohibited act; and/or any federal, state, or local officer or member of an organized rescue or firefighting force in the performance of an official duty.

Lake Mead National Recreation Area will allow wood or charcoal fires in grills of developed picnic areas; campfires with wood or charcoal burning devises on the shoreline where natural vegetation is at least 100 feet from the shoreline; barbecue grills on private boats outside the harbors of Lake Mead and Lake Mohave; rental boats are authorized to use barbecues attached to vessel if allowed under rental boat agreement; all vessel barbecue fires must be at least 100 feet away from shoreline vegetation.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will allow campfires in fire rings at Desert Pass Campground within the Desert National Wildlife Refuge.

Bureau of Land Management is prohibiting the use of steel jacket ammunition. This form of ammunition is a known fire starter. The jacket of steel core ammunition is coated with copper and will spark on rocks which cause vegetation to ignite.

Southern Nevada has experienced above average winter precipitation that caused an abundance of invasive weeds that fuel wildland fire.

“Following fire restrictions and developing defensible space on private property will help reduce the risk of a catastrophic wildland fire season,” said Dennis Darling, U.S. Forest Service Fire Management Officer.

In 2009, Southern Nevada wildland firefighters responded to 166 wildland fires which burned 429 acres.

“The potential for wildland fires in Southern Nevada has recently increased due to higher temperatures that are drying vegetation,” said Mark Blankensop, Nevada Division of Forestry Regional Manager.

“Mojave Desert lands burned by wildland fire are more vulnerable to new fires because they become overgrown with invasive annual grasses,” said Glenn Gibson, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Fire Management Officer.

“These restrictions should be taken seriously,” said Aaron Baldwin, National Park Service Fire Management Officer. “Violations can result in a fine of up to $10,000 and a year in jail as well as the costs associated with resource damage, suppression costs, and injuries if found guilty.”