The U.S. Bureau of Land Management, citing dry conditions and high fire danger, has placed partial fire restrictions on public lands it administers in Natrona, Converse, Platte and Goshen counties beginning today.

The BLM imposes these restrictions in coordination with the counties:

  • Building, maintaining, attending or using a fire or campfire except within agency-provided fire grates at developed recreation sites, or within fully enclosed stoves with a quarter-inch spark arrestor screen, or within fully enclosed grills, or in stoves using pressurized liquid or gas.
  • Smoking, except in an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site, or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable materials.
  • Operating a chainsaw without a USDA or SAE approved and properly installed spark arrestor, a chemical fire extinguisher with at least an eight-ounce capacity, and one round-point shovel with an overall length of at least 36 inches.
  • Using a gas or arc welder, or operating an acetylene or other torch with open flame, except in cleared areas of at least 10 feet in diameter with a chemical pressurized fire extinguisher with at least an eight-ounce capacity.
The BLM offers fire rings on a first-come first-served basis at these locations:
  • Muddy Mountain in the Lodge Pole and Rim campgrounds.
  • On the North Platte River at Pet’s Draw, Golden Current, Chalk Bluffs and Buffaloberry campgrounds.
  • In the South Bighorns at Buffalo Creek and Graves Springs campground.
These restrictions are in addition to year-round wildfire prevention restrictions on BLM-administered public lands in Wyoming:
  • Discharging or using any fireworks.
  • Discharging firearms using incendiary or tracer ammunition.
  • Burning, igniting or causing to burn any tire, wire, magnesium, or any other hazardous or explosive material.
  • Operating any off-road vehicle on public lands unless it is equipped with a properly installed spark arrestor.

Violation of this fire protection order is punishable by up to one year in jail, a fine up to $100,000, or both. Restitution for total suppression and damage costs incurred will be borne by the violator.

More From 107.9 Jack FM