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NEVADA CITY, Calif. (July 1, 2024) — Stage 1 fire restrictions will be implemented on the Tahoe National Forest starting today, July 1 at 5 p.m. due to high fire danger conditions. Under these restrictions, the public can still maintain a campfire in established fire rings within designated developed campgrounds and day-use sites, but not outside of those areas.
“As fuels continue to dry on the forest floor and temperatures get hotter, fire danger increases,” said Tahoe National Forest Fire Management Officer Kyle Jacobson. “Despite seeing several events of late-season rain this spring, the forest has experienced several weeks of hot, dry and windy conditions that have rapidly dried forest fuels, increasing the potential for wildland fires. Restricting fires in the undeveloped areas can help protect our forest and surrounding communities during these overly dry and hot periods each year.”
Forest managers use several criteria to determine when to implement fire restrictions, including current and predicted weather, fuel moisture, fire activity levels and available firefighting resources.
Under Stage 1 restrictions, the following are prohibited July 1 through Nov. 1, 2024:
- Building or maintaining a fire, campfire or charcoal briquette fire outside of provided fire rings or charcoal grills within designated developed campgrounds and picnic areas.
- Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, a designated campground or recreation area, or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable material.
- Operating an internal combustion engine off paved, gravel or dirt National Forest System roads and trails, except within the Prosser Pits Developed Off-Highway Vehicle Area and boats on a water surface.
Last fire season, the majority of fires on the Tahoe National Forest were human-caused. Help protect our forests, firefighters and communities by following these principals when out on forested lands:
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Campfires: Attend your campfire at all times. Ensure your fire is completely extinguished—drown with water (NOT dirt), stir with your shovel, drown again and feel for any heat using the back of your hand. Continue this process until no heat remains.
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Stoves: If using pressurized or bottled liquid fuel stoves, lanterns, or heating devices, use in barren areas with at least 3 feet of clearance from grasses and other debris that may catch fire. Prevent stoves from tipping.
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Vehicles: When traveling, ensure your chains are properly connected. The hot underside of the vehicle and dragging chains can start a fire. Stick to driving on designated roads and trails and be careful to not park your car or OHV in tall, dry, vegetation, including grass.
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Spark Arrestors: Ensure that all internal or external combustion engines have a spark arresting device properly installed, maintained and in effective working order.
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Smoking: Extinguish all smoking materials dead out on bare soil. Pack out all cigarette butts and filters.
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Fireworks: Fireworks are prohibited on all national forests year-round, leave them and all other pyrotechnic devices at home.
As a reminder, year-round fire restrictions are in place outside of designated dispersed camps and developed campgrounds across the eastside of the Tahoe National Forest.
The full Forest Order and list of designated developed recreation sites where campfires continue to be allowed under Stage 1 restrictions can be found here: https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd1184988.pdf
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