SPOKANE, Wash. – The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is restricting certain activities on public lands in twenty Washington counties to reduce the risk of human-caused wildfires.
Public use restrictions go into effect on June 13 and include the following, according to a news release by BLM Oregon and Washington:
Smoking is prohibited while traveling, except in vehicles on improved roads, in boats on the water, and other designated locations.Building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire or stove fire, including charcoal briquette fire. Exception: Campfires (including charcoal briquette fire) within provided steel rings at certain improved campgrounds will be deemed legal. Contact local BLM Offices for guidance.Operating any type of motorized vehicle off developed roadways. Parking vehicles off roadways must be done in an area barren of flammable materials.Fireworks are prohibited on BLM public lands, along with exploding targets, metal targets, and firing tracer or incendiary devices.
The restrictions have been placed on twenty counties in Washington: Adams, Asotin, Benton, Chelan, Columbia, Douglas, Ferry, Franklin, Garfield, Grant, Kittitas, Klickitat, Lincoln, Okanogan, Pend Oreille, Spokane, Stevens, Walla Walla, Whitman, and Yakima.
“Know Before You Go and be prepared before visiting your public lands this summer,” said Lonnie Newton, Fire Management Officer for the BLM Spokane District. “Pack a shovel and fire extinguisher and follow BLM’s fire restriction orders to help prevent fires.”
BLM’s news release explained that fire restrictions help keep the public and first responders safe as summer approaches and temperatures rise.
Visitors can find up-to-date information on fire restrictions on BLM Oregon/Washington’s fire restriction webpage.
