Fire Restrictions Expand to Cover the Entire Eldorado National Forest August 10

“Earlier this week I implemented fire restrictions on the western side of the Eldorado National Forest,” said Forest Supervisor Kathy Hardy. “I am expanding the fire restrictions to include the entire forest.

Recent small fires at higher elevations demonstrated that the forest vegetation has dried very quickly. Forest conditions are expected to continue this drying trend.”

A list of the Designated Exempted Recreation Sites on the Eldorado National Forest can be found at http://www.fs.usda.gov/eldorado.

Beginning on August 10, the following acts are prohibited within the Eldorado National Forest through the end of the 2012 fire season:

1.     Building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire, or stove fire, except within the stoves and fire rings provided in the Designated Recreation Sites shown on Exhibit A.  36CFR 261.52(a).

2. Smoking, except within 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 material.  36 CFR 261.52(d).
3. Welding, or operating an acetylene or other torch with an open flame.  36 CFR 261.52(i).
4. Operating or using any internal or external combustion engine without a spark arresting device properly installed and maintained in effective working order.  36 CFR 261.52(j).

The following persons are exempt from this order:

1. Persons with a permit from the Forest Service specifically authorizing the otherwise prohibited act or omission.
2.  Persons with a special use permit from the Forest Service for a recreation residence in a Recreation Residence Tract, may build, maintain, attend or use an elevated charcoal or propane grill for purposes of cooking at their recreation residence, provided that they have a valid California Campfire Permit, and comply with the terms of the permit.
3. Persons with a valid California Campfire permit are NOT exempt from the prohibitions listed above. However, persons with a valid California Campfire permit may use a portable stove or lantern that uses gas, kerosene, jellied petroleum or pressurized liquid fuel.

            The prohibitions carry penalties that can include fines and imprisonment. Violation of the prohibitions is punishable by a fine of not more than $5,000 for an individual or $10,000 for an organization, or imprisonment for not more than six months, or both. Forest Service fire prevention personnel will patrol the Forest daily looking for unsafe situations.