MENDOCINO NATIONAL FOREST, Calif. — Ongoing drought and warming conditions have prompted forest officials to issue stage 1 fire-use restrictions.
The restrictions went into effect on Monday, July 25.
The prohibitions outlined in Forest Order No. 08-22-06 are designed to minimize the chances of human-caused wildland fires and are in effect through the end of the 2022 fire season.
“The decision to move into fire restrictions is based on fuel moisture levels and predicted weather conditions,” said Fire Management Officer Curtis Coots. “We want to help protect undeveloped areas of the forest and our surrounding communities.”
“At this stage, the public can still enjoy a campfire or stove fire in designated fire-safe campgrounds or in Wilderness Areas so long as they have a valid California Campfire Permit,” Coots said.
Fire restrictions prohibit the following activities:
• Building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire, or stove fire.
• Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, or within the designated recreation sites shown in Exhibit A of the forest order.
• Operating an internal combustion engine, except on National Forest System roads or trails.
• Welding, or operating an acetylene or other torch with an open flame.
• Using an explosive.
• Possessing, discharging or using any kind of firework or other pyrotechnic device.
Exemptions include:
• Persons with a permit from the Forest Service specifically exempting them from this order.
• Persons with a valid California Campfire Permit are not exempt from the prohibitions listed in this order. However, persons with a valid California Campfire Permit may use portable stoves or lanterns using gas, jellied petroleum, or pressurized liquid fuel and may also build, maintain, attend or use a fire, campfire, or stove fire in the designated fire-safe recreation sites listed in Exhibit A, as well as in federally designated Wilderness Areas as shown on Exhibit B.
• Any federal, state or local officer, or member of an organized rescue or firefighting force in the performance of an official duty.
• Persons with a Special Use Permit from the Forest Service for a recreation residence on the Mendocino National Forest are exempt from prohibition numbers 1, 2, 3, and 4 while they are at their recreation residence.
Similar restrictions are also in effect on neighboring public lands. Because restrictions can vary by jurisdiction, visitors should contact the area they plan to visit for specific fire restrictions and conditions.
The Mendocino National Forest consists of 913,306 acres along northern California’s coastal range. The forest is headquartered in Willows and maintains district offices in the communities of Covelo and Upper Lake. More information is available at www.fs.usda.gov/mendocino.
Stage 1 fire restrictions begin on Mendocino National Forest
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