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topicnews · October 25, 2024

The Bureau of Land Management is lifting fire and shooting restrictions

The Bureau of Land Management is lifting fire and shooting restrictions

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The California Desert District is lifting seasonal fire restrictions on Bureau of Land Management public lands in various counties.

At midnight on Thursday, October 24, the bureau began bonfires and target shooting on its public lands in Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, Riverside, Imperial, South Inyo, East Mono, San Diego and East Kern counties to allow.

Smoking restrictions will also be lifted on BLM-managed public lands in San Diego, East Kern, West Riverside, West San Bernardino and East Los Angeles counties.

“We continue to ask the public to exercise safety and caution when using fire or participating in recreational shooting on public property,” said Shelly Lynch, manager of the California Desert District.

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Use of campfires, grills, and gas stoves on BLM-managed public lands is permitted with a valid California campfire permit. Campfire permits are required outside of developed campgrounds and are available free online at ReadyForWildfire.org and at BLM, Forest Service and Cal Fire offices.

During alert warnings and fire weather watches established by the National Weather Service, all recreational shooting and use of campfires will be suspended to reduce the possibility of accidental ignition of wildfires, BLM officials said.

Year-round fire restrictions, including the statewide fire code and the California Desert District’s year-round fire code, remain in effect on all BLM-managed public lands in California.

Camping and Hunting Safety Tips to Prevent Wildfires

The public is reminded to exercise extreme caution when dealing with fire and follow the following precautions:

  • Always keep a 1.5 meter wide circle around your campfire.
  • Always have a shovel and plenty of water ready.
  • Always put out your campfire before you leave.
  • Never use steel targets, steel jacket ammunition or steel core ammunition when shooting recreationally as there is a greater risk of fire.
  • Always park vehicles away from areas where exhaust fumes can ignite grass or other flammable materials.

Visit the California Fire Information and Fire Restrictions website for an interactive map and listing of fire restrictions throughout BLM California.

Daily Press reporter Rene Ray De La Cruz can be reached at RDeLaCruz@VVDailyPress.com. Follow him on X @DP_ReneDeLaCruz

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