Forest Service Eases Fire Restrictions on National Grassland, Laramie Peak

The U.S. Forest Service effective immediately has rescinded all fire restrictions on the Thunder Basin National Grassland and the Laramie Peak Portion of the Medicine Bow National Forest, according to a news release Friday.

The Forest Service decided to ease the restrictions because of the reduction in human-caused risk, increased fuel moisture, and favorable long-term fire weather forecasts.

Even so, the Forest Service advises those who use the forests to use caution when building and maintaining campfires. Put campfires dead out before leaving a campsite or going to sleep.

The Forest Service also recommends these fire safety tips for campers and other users of public lands:

• Scrape back dead grass and forest materials from your campfire site.
• Keep your campfire small and under control; make it only as big as you need it.
• Keep a shovel and a water container nearby to douse escaped embers.
• Do not park vehicles in tall dry grass, since hot tailpipes can cause fine fuels to catch on fire.
• Remember that any ignition – cigarettes, campfires, gunfire, vehicles – could be the cause of a wildland fire, as grass and other vegetation is dry and extremely flammable.
• Always follow current fire restrictions.
• Fireworks are not allowed on federal lands.

To report a wildland fire on the Medicine Bow National Forest or the Thunder Basin National Grassland, call the Casper Interagency Dispatch Center at (307) 261-7691.

For more information contact the Douglas Ranger District Office at its website or call (307) 358-4690. The office is at 2250 E. Richards St., Douglas.