(Grangeville, ID) Hot and dry weather conditions have recently continued to cure both live and dead fuels across the landscape in north-central Idaho. This has prompted a decision amongst interagency land managers to implement Fire Restrictions for the Grangeville Fire Restrictions Area. Fire Wardens and Fire Management Officers from the Nez Perce Tribe, Idaho Department of Lands, Bureau of Land Management, Clearwater-Potlatch Timber Protection Association, and the Forest Service have collectively decided to implement Stage 1 Fire Restrictions for the Grangeville Fire Restrictions Area. (see attached map or visit here: https://www.idl.idaho.gov/fire management/fire-restrictions-finder/ ). State Fire Restrictions apply to all federal, state, state endowment, private forestlands, and rangelands within the designated area.
Stage 1 Fire Restrictions go into effect at 12:01 A.M. PDT on Saturday, July 20th. The following acts are prohibited until further notice:
- Building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire, campfire or stove fire except within a designated recreation site, or on their own land, and only within an owner-provided fire structure.
- Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle, building, or designated recreation site, or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable materials.
The overall intent of implementing Stage 1 Fire Restrictions is to communicate the increasing risk of wildland fires starting. Fire season has been underway across most of the Western United States for the last couple of weeks and firefighting resources can get stretched thin quickly this time of year. Awareness of fire danger and
diligence with fire safety can help reduce the number of accidental human starts, which in turn, is the best way that we can all help with the overall wildland fire effort.
With the high temperatures the region is experiencing, fire managers are asking the public to be extra cautious when spending time outdoors. As a reminder, fireworks are prohibited on all federal, state, and private forestland and rangeland, and on public lands, roads, and trails in Idaho during closed fire season (May 10 through October 20.)
Please visit https://www.idl.idaho.gov/fire-management/fire-restrictions-finder/ for a detailed map and current information regarding fire restrictions, or contact your local land management office.