BLM Orders Fire Restrictions For Weston, Crook And Niobrara Counties

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management has ordered fire restrictions in Weston, Crook and Niobrara counties beginning Friday, according to a news release from the BLM's  Newcastle Field Office.

• Building, maintaining, attending or using a fire or campfire except within agency-provided fire grates at developed recreation sites, or within fully enclosed stoves with a quarter-inch spark arrestor-type screen, or within fully enclosed grills, or in stoves using pressurized liquid or gas.
• Smoking, except in an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site, or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable materials.
• Operating a chainsaw without a USDA or SAE approved spark arrestor properly installed and working. Those operating chainsaws must have a chemical fire extinguisher with at least an eight-ounce capacity by weight, and one round-point shovel at least 36 inches long.
• Using an arc or gas welder, or operating an acetylene or other torch with open flame, except in cleared areas of at least 10 feet in diameter with a chemical pressurized fire extinguisher with at least an eight-ounce capacity by weight.

• Discharging or using any fireworks.
• Discharging of a firearm that uses incendiary or tracer ammunition.
• Burning, igniting or causing to burn any tire, wire, magnesium, or any other hazardous or explosive material.
• Operating any off-road vehicle on public lands unless the vehicle is equipped with a properly installed and legal spark arrestor.