BLM Fire Restrictions

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For Immediate Release
Contact: Scott Boyd (509) 536-1200
Release No: OR130-FY2008-018

July 15, 2008


Fire Restrictions on Bureau of Land Management
Lands in Eastern Washington



Spokane - A regulated fire closure on lands administered by the Spokane District, Bureau of Land Management will take effect at 12:01 a.m. July 17, 2008. The following Eastern Washington counties: Adams, Asotin, Benton, Chelan, Columbia, Douglas, Ferry, Franklin, Garfield, Grant, Kittitas, Klickitat, Lincoln, Okanogan, Pend Oreille, Spokane, Stevens, Walla Walla, Whitman, Yakima, will be affected by the closure.

The regulated fire closure prohibits the following acts on affected lands:

· Operating any type of motorized vehicle off developed roadways with the exception of the OHV Area at Juniper Dunes Recreation Area which will remain open. Parking of vehicles off roadways must be done in an area barren of flammable materials. Developed roadways are those that are clear of flammable debris berm to berm.

· Building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire or stove fire, including charcoal briquette fire. Liquefied and bottled gas stoves and heaters are permitted provided they are used within an area at least 10 feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable material. Fires within steel rings at improved campgrounds will also be deemed legal including the Yakima River Canyon, Coffeepot, Twin Lakes, Liberty, Chopaka, Washburn and Pacific Lake sites.

· Smoking while traveling in timber, brush or grass areas, except in vehicles on roads, or cleared areas at least 3 feet in diameter, or on boats on rivers and or lakes.
On all public lands within the Spokane District, ignition of fireworks is prohibited. Violation of these prohibitions is punishable by a fine of not more than $1,000 or to imprisonment of not more than 12 months, or both.

For complete details on the restrictions, please see the official Regulated Fire Closure Order at the BLM website: http://www.blm.gov/or/districts/spokane/fire/index.php

For additional information, please contact the Spokane BLM District Office, telephone (509) 536-1200.