UPDATE: Earlier Friday morning the Bureau of Land Management implemented a Stage 1 Fire Restriction. So it your plans include the great outdoors, you’ll want to take extra precautions.
With the restrictions taking effect in multiple cities across the state this morning, you might be wondering what this means for you and your travel plans.
We headed up Highway 55 to see how much folks know about recent fire restrictions. Boise resident, Amanda Carter, was visiting a campsite along the highway and said, “No fire, no open flame there's no open campfires theres no premade grills that you have here in the picnic area.”
One alternative Amanda made with her family to accommodate the restrictions is their own lunchables.
"I thought about bringing hot dogs and hamburgers today to cook but we ended up just bringing little meal kits and had the kids make their own lunchables,” says Carter.
And even if your fires burn in an approved fire structure or recreation site, it’s always better to be safe than sorry.
A violation of the fire restrictions can result in fines or even jail time.
The Stage 1 fire restrictions will be in effect until further notice in the Treasure Valley, West Central Mountains, and Owyhee Mountains of Idaho -- which includes all federal, state and private forestland and rangeland in:
--Ada, Canyon, Gem, Payette, Elmore, Boise, Valley, Washington and Owyhee Counties
--Within Washington County, all Bureau of Reclamation lands surrounding Mann Creek Reservoir
--Within Valley County, all Bureau of Reclamation lands surrounding Lake Cascade
--Within Elmore and Boise counties, all Bureau of Reclamation lands surrounding Arrowrock and Anderson Ranch reservoirs
The restrictions are being implemented by agencies managing or providing wildland fire protection, including the U.S Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management and the Idaho Department of Lands.
Fire managers divide Idaho into zones -- and the fire restrictions will affect the following zones:
--Treasure Valley Fire Restrictions Zone
All of Ada, Canyon, Gem, Payette and Washington counties. Portions of Boise County including the administrative boundary of Lucky Peak Lake to Arrowrock Dam, south shore of Arrowrock Reservoir and that portion of Elmore County that lies south of the South Fork Boise River to Anderson Ranch Dam, south along Anderson Dam Road (FS Rd 134) to Highway 20, east on Highway 20 to the Elmore/Gooding County line south to Interstate 84. The Treasure Valley Restriction area is bounded by the Idaho/Oregon boundary to Oreana then follows the Bachman Grade to Triangle and continues east-northeast of the Owyhee Front to the Bruneau River. The northern boundary begins near Weiser, Idaho and follows Highway 95 to Indian Valley, then generally follows the Little Weiser River to the Payette and Boise National Forest boundary lines.
--West Central Mountains Fire Restrictions Zone
Boise National Forest, Boise District BLM and State and Endowment Lands within Elmore County, Boise County, and Valley County to include all Bureau of Reclamation lands surrounding Lake Cascade. From the point where the Boise National Forest boundary intersects State Highway 20 near Dixie following the Boise National Forest boundary west and north along the ridge of the Danskin to Boise Front foothills and extending north encompassing the Idaho Department of Lands to its intersection back with the Boise National Forest boundary near Sagehen Reservoir. The far northern boundary includes all Boise National Forest lands, excluding the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness. All lands north of Sagehen Reservoir including Tripod Mountain and West Mountain within the North Fork Payette River drainage north to near Tamarack Resort.
--Owyhee Fire Restrictions Zone
All of Owyhee County west of the Bruneau Canyon.
Under the Stage 1 Fire Restrictions, the following acts are prohibited on private, state and federally managed or protected lands, roads, and trails:
-Building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire, campfire or stove fire except within a designated recreation site within a permanent concrete or metal fire ring, or on their own land within an owner-provided 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 following are exemptions to the Stage 1 Fire Restrictions:
-Persons with a written permit that specifically authorizes the otherwise prohibited act.
-Persons using fire fueled solely by liquid petroleum or liquid petroleum gas fuels. Such devices, including propane campfires, may be used only in an area cleared of flammable material.
-Persons conducting activities in those designated areas where the activity is specifically authorized by written posted notice.
-Any federal, state or local officer or member of an organized rescue or firefighting force in the performance of an official duty.
-All land within a city boundary is exempted.
-Other exemptions unique to each agency.
Fire managers are asking the public to be extra cautious when spending time in the outdoors. As a reminder, fireworks are prohibited on state and private forestland and rangeland during closed fire season (May 10 through Oct. 20), and on public lands, roads and trail in Idaho all times of the year.
Controlled burning restrictions may be in place due to air quality through the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality.
For more information about Stage 1 fire restrictions and to view an interactive map, visit www.idahofireinfo.com.
If you are planning a visit to public lands in these areas, please check with the Boise National Forest (www.fs.usda.gov/boise [fs.usda.gov]), BLM Idaho (www.blm.gov/idaho [blm.gov]), or the Idaho Department of Lands (www.idl.idaho.gov [idl.idaho.gov]) websites for the latest information or visit www.idahofireinfo.com [idahofireinfo.com].
