County enacts stage one fire restrictions

During last week’s Hot Springs County Commissioner meeting, HSC Fire Warden Dion Robbins requested a resolution for implementing stage 1 fire restrictions. During the discussion, it was mentioned how other counties and the BLM have different definitions of fire restrictions and that the moisture level in the state and in Hot Springs County is low. The commissioners voted and passed the approval for the resolution.

The resolution reads as follows:

Based upon recommendations of the Hot Springs County Fire Warden, the Board of Hot Springs County Commissioners are empowered by Wyoming State Statute (W.S.S) 35-9-301 through 35-9-304 to close areas to fire when fire danger in the county is extreme because of drought, the presence of any excessive amount of flammable material or for any other sufficient reason. The Board of Hot Springs County Commissioners find there is an extreme danger of fire throughout

Hot Springs County because of drought conditions and there is a presence of excessive amounts of flammable materials and the fire danger is aggravated by open burning and the use of incendiary devices.

Effective July 22, until further notice of this board, any open fire or discharge of any class A, B, and/or C fireworks is prohibited on all unimproved State and Private Land including, but not limited to, all land owners in Hot Springs County or in which Hot Springs County holds or owns an interest, including county roads, casements and rights-of-way in Hot Springs County. The prohibition is subject to the following exceptions:

•Trash or refuse burned between the hours of 6 p.m. and 8 a.m. inside containers equipped with spark arrestors which are located within a cleared area that has at least a ten foot radius, and comply with all other laws and requirements.

•Camp Fires contained within an established fire ring at an established campground provided the fire is in compliance with BLM, Forest Service and National Park Service regulations in effect at the time.

•Charcoal fires within enclosed grills.

•Use of acetylene cutting torches or electric are welders provided the torches or welders are used within a cleared arca with at least a ten foot radius

•Propane or open fire branding activities provided the branding activities are conducted within a cleared area with at least a ten foot radius.

•Use of chain saws provided the chain saws have spark arrestors properly installed and functioning-

•Federal, State or Local Fire or Law Enforcement Officers participating in Fire, Emergency and Law Enforcement Activities.

•Public-sponsored fireworks displays which are coordinated with the Hot Springs County Fire Warden.

Unimproved land is defined to mean cropland, agricultural land and undeveloped land which predominately remains in its natural forested or range condition.

BLM fire restrictions 

 Due to dry conditions and high fire danger, stage 1 fire restrictions have been issued for public lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management Cody, Lander and Worland field offices. These restrictions include BLM-managed public lands within Big Horn, Fremont, Hot Springs, Johnson, Natrona, Park, Sheridan and Washakie counties.

The following acts are prohibited under stage 1 restrictions.

•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 ¼” spark arrester type 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 U.S. Department of Agriculture or Society of Automotive Engineers approved spark arrester properly installed and working, a chemical fire extinguisher of not less than 8 ounces capacity by weight, and one round point shovel with an overall length of at least 36 inches.

•Using a welder, either arc or gas, or operating an acetylene or other torch with open flame, except in cleared areas of at least ten feet in diameter with a chemical pressurized fire extinguisher of not less than eight ounces capacity.

 •Stage 1 fire restrictions are in addition to the year-round wildfire prevention restrictions on BLM-administered public lands in Wyoming.

For more information on BLM fire restrictions or conditions, visit http://www.blm.gov/wyoming-fire-restrictions.