Nevada Division of Forestry fights Nevada rangeland fire.

ELKO, Nev. — Lack of precipitation, high winds and extremely high temperatures have caused vegetation throughout the area to become highly combustible.  There have been numerous human and lightning caused fires in the last two weeks resulting in the closure of open burning of yard materials and the use of burn barrels.

The Nevada Division of Forestry in conjunction with the northeast area and the Eureka County Fire Protection Districts will close all controlled burning as of Friday, July 16, 2010.  This includes yard trimmings, limbs and brush piles in the unincorporated areas of Elko and Eureka Counties.  All 2010 burn permits will expire on that date.

NDF will be monitoring conditions and further restrictions may be implemented during the summer months.  New permit numbers will be required when the fall moisture returns.

Please remember with the onset of summer to have adequate defensible space of 30 feet or more feet around homes and out buildings. Some helpful tips for clearing or mowing to create defensible spaces includes watering the area the night prior to mowing, mowing in strips between watered areas and using weed eaters with nylon twine instead of mowers using metal blades.  Please use caution while traveling and recreating in the outdoors carry water, a shovel and call 911 or 775-738-5137 or 775-748-4000 to report a fire.