July 28, 2017 - EL DORADO HILLS, Calif. - The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Mother Lode Field Office is temporarily increasing fire restrictions for public lands to Stage 2, effective July 27, with the exception to portable stove use with a California campfire permit. The additional temporary fire restrictions will be in place until further notice.

The Mother Lode Field Office boundaries include all or portions of Alpine, Amador, Calaveras, Colusa, El Dorado, Mariposa, Merced, Nevada, Placer, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Sutter, Tuolumne, and Yuba counties.

  “In partnership with our fellow California federal, state, and local wildland fire prevention agencies, we are taking this extra precaution to help protect America’s public lands during this period of extreme fire danger,” says Acting Field Manager James Eicher, at BLM Mother Lode Field Office. “The BLM is committed to keeping public landscapes healthy and productive, so we all have to do our part to prevent wildland fires.”

The National Weather Service is forecasting triple digit temperatures in the coming week. Caution is urged by all Californians and those visiting the Golden State, because one less spark means one less wildfire.

Stage 2 fire restrictions include:

• No campfires, barbecue grills, or open fires. Only portable stoves with gas, jellied petroleum or pressured liquid fuel, are allowed with a valid California campfire permit. Visitors should, however, be extremely careful with their use and should carry shovels and water to help put out fire.
• No welding or operating acetylene or other torch with an open flame.
• No operating tools powered by internal combustion engines off established roads or trails, i.e., chainsaws or lawn mowers.
• No motorized vehicles off established roads or trails.
• No shooting, use of firearms for hunting is still allowed.
• No smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, or at a designated developed recreation site, or other designated areas.
• No fireworks of any kind.
• No explosives may be used or cause to be used, except by special permit.

The Mother Lode Field Office manages approximately 230,000 acres of public land, including acreage that is within the historic Mother Lode region of the Sierra Nevada Range. As stewards, the BLM manages public lands for the benefit of current and future generations, supporting conservation as part of its multiple-use mission. The BLM greatly appreciate the public’s cooperation in helping to minimize the number of human-caused wildfires. More fire restriction information can be found at https://www.blm.gov/programs/public-safety-and-fire/fire-and-aviation/regional-info/california/fire-restrictions, or by calling the Mother Lode Field Office at (916) 941-3101.
Source: BLM