BOISE, Idaho - With the threat of wildfire danger increasing throughout southwest Idaho, local wildland fire management agencies will implement Stage 1 Fire Restrictions, effective August 21, 2015 beginning at 12:01 a.m. They will remain in effect until further notice. These restrictions are intended to decrease the chance of any preventable fires in the designated areas.
The identified areas going into Stage 1 fire restrictions include agency and state and private forest and range lands protected by the Boise National Forest, Boise District BLM, Payette National Forest (excluding the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness,) Southern Idaho Timber Protective Association (SITPA) and State and Endowment Lands within:
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Elmore County outside incorporated city limits
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Boise County outside incorporated city limits
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Valley County outside incorporated city limits and outside of federal lands designated as wilderness
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Adams County outside incorporated city limits
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Washington County outside incorporated city limits
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Within Washington County all Bureau of Reclamation Lands surrounding Mann Creek Reservoir
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Within Valley County all Bureau of Reclamation Lands surrounding Cascade Reservoir
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Within Elmore and Boise Counties all Bureau of Reclamation Lands surrounding Arrowrock and Anderson Ranch Reservoirs
For a map of the West Central Mountain Zone visit: www.fs.usda/boise; www.fs.usda/payette; http://idahofireinfo.blogspot.com/p/fire-restrictions.html
Under Stage 1 fire restrictions, the following acts are prohibited on the restricted state and private forest and range lands, and federally managed lands, roads and trails:
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Building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire or stove fire except within an agency designated recreation site* and only within an agency provided structure, or on a private citizen’s own land and only within an owner-provided fire structure.
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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.
*A “designated recreation site” is a recreation site that: 1) is included on the individual National Forest’s list of areas where campfires are permitted; and 2) which contains a Forest-provided fire ring. Campfires are not permitted at sites that do not have a Forest-provided ring. The list of approved sites is available at Ranger District offices or Forest websites (www.fs.usda/boise; www.fs.usda/payette).
Stage 2 fire restrictions are currently in effect for Zone 4 which includes all state, private and BLM lands (except that located within NFS boundaries). Zone 4 is the Little Salmon River corridor along highway 95, from Smokey Boulder Road, north to Riggins; then from Riggins up the Main Salmon River to French Creek. Those stronger restrictions stay in place and remain unchanged.
Exemptions for Stage 1 Areas:
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Persons with a written permit that specifically authorizes the otherwise prohibited act.
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Persons using fire solely by liquid petroleum or LPG fuels. Such devices, including propane campfires, may be used only in an area cleared of flammable material.
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Persons using metal fire pans (ashes must be packed out) within ¼ mile of the Main Salmon River
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Private landowners using charcoal (disposed of properly) or propane barbecues on their own lands
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Persons conducting activities in those designated areas where the activity is specifically authorized by written posted notice.
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Any federal, state or local officer or member of an organized rescue or firefighting force, in the performance of an official duty.
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All land within a city boundary.
An exemption does not absolve an individual or organization from liability or responsibility for any fire started by the exempted activity