Firefighting agencies urge caution as hot, dry summer weather begins
A wetter than average spring hasn't dented four years of drought, with fire agencies ramping up in preparation of summer fire season in the Sierra, Pine Nut Mountains and on public land throughout Nevada.
The Bureau of Land Management Carson City District, U.S. Forest Service and the Nevada Division of Forestry warn of the dangers looming this season, with temperatures climbing and tinder dry conditions on the ground and in the forests.
“We encourage the public to be careful in regards to human-caused fires and take appropriate steps to prevent them,” said Shane McDonald, Interagency Fire Management Officer. “In situations such as the anticipated high wind days, firefighting agencies rely heavily upon the public to make sensible decisions in regards to fire on public and private land.”
In 2015, there have been six human caused fires with approximately 180 acres burned on public lands managed by the BLM and Forest Service.“Agencies will be closely monitoring conditions as they evaluate the need for fire restrictions,” said McDonald.
The agencies are urging the following precautions this summer:
— Never leave a campfire unattended. Extinguish all campfires completely and stir ashes to make sure no hot coals remain and always make sure they are dead out.
— Dispose of cigarettes in proper containers away from any flammable material.
— If off-road vehicle use is allowed, internal combustion equipment should have a spark arrester.
— Avoid driving though dry vegetation or parking your vehicle in high grass or dry vegetation.
— Never use stoves, lanterns or heaters inside a tent.
— Store flammable liquid containers in a safe place.
— Do not shoot tracer bullets, incendiary ammunition or exploding targets.
— Do not shoot in areas of dry fuels especially in times of extreme conditions such as Red Flag Warnings (critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now, or will shortly. A combination of strong winds, low relative humidity…and warm temperatures will create explosive fire growth potential), or a Fire Weather Watch (critical fire weather conditions are forecast to occur). These watches and warnings are issued by the National Weather Service.
— Shoot only at cardboard or paper targets or manufactured thrown-type clay targets.
— Remember, shots fired across open desert can travel more than a mile and can cause a wildfire.
At the first sign of a wildfire, contact Sierra Front Interagency Dispatch Center at 775-883-5995 or call 911. For more information contact Lisa Ross at 775-885-6107.
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