BLM lifts fire restrictions

Effective immediately, the Bureau of Land Management has lifted fire restrictions on all public lands administered by the Cody, Lander and Worland field offices within Big Horn, Carbon, Fremont, Hot Springs, Park, Sweetwater and Washakie counties, and a small portion of Natrona County that falls within the Lander Field Office area. 

 Fire danger has decreased across the BLM Wind River/Bighorn Basin District due to cooler temperatures and increased precipitation, allowing fire restrictions to be safely lifted.

 “Please remain vigilant as you’re enjoying public lands this fall,” said Rance Neighbors, interim district fire management officer. “Completely extinguish your campfire before leaving it and always keep wildfire prevention in mind.” 

 The following activities can resume on BLM-administered public lands:

Building a campfire, smoking, operating a chainsaw, using an arc or gas welder, or operating an acetylene or other torch. 

 The following activities are prohibited year-round on all BLM-administered public lands:

Discharging or using fireworks, discharging a firearm using incendiary or tracer ammunition, burning or igniting tires, wires, magnesium, or other hazardous or explosive material, operating an off-road vehicle unless it is equipped with a properly installed spark arrester

Neighbors thanked public land users for their cooperation and vigilance. “It’s been a busy fire season, but without your adherence to the fire restrictions, it’s likely there would have been even more fires,” he said.