The Independent
Due to recent dry conditions and high fire danger in southwest Utah and northwest Arizona, Color Country Interagency Fire Managers have implemented Stage 1 fire restrictions beginning this week. The following describes the restrictions to be implemented by each fire management agency in Color Country; the following acts will be prohibited until further notice.
Unincorporated privately owned and all state-owned lands in Washington County (UT Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands):
- Setting, building, maintaining, attending or using open fire of any kind, except campfires and charcoal fires within agency approved fire pits and grills provided in developed recreation sites and picnic areas or at permanently improved places of habitation (contact Forestry, Fire and State Lands for further information). Devices fueled by petroleum or LPG products are allowed in all locations.
- Smoking except in enclosed vehicle or building, or a developed recreation site or cleared areas of a minimum of three (3) feet in diameter down to mineral soil.
- Discharging, or using any kind of fireworks, tracer ammunition or other pyrotechnic devices.
- The cutting, welding or grinding of metal in areas of dry vegetation.
- Use of exploding targets that are detonated when struck by a projectile such as a bullet.
These restrictions do not apply to incorporated towns and cities except for state owned lands within incorporated towns and cities. Please contact the local fire agency for any restrictions that may apply.
Dixie National Forest, Pine Valley Ranger District (UT):
- Igniting, building, maintaining, or using a fire, including charcoal and briquettes, outside a fire structure that is provided by the Forest Service within a designated area, (all developed recreation sites e.g., campgrounds and picnic areas, that are maintained and administered by the Forest Service, shown on the current Forest visitor maps, and have a permanent fire structure). Stoves or grills that are fueled solely by liquid petroleum fuels are allowed in all locations.
- Smoking outside an enclosed vehicle or building unless stopped in an area at least three (3) feet in diameter that is clear of all flammable materials.
Note that discharging, or using any kind of fireworks, tracer ammunition or other incendiary devices in any location on federal lands is always prohibited.
The National Park Service including Zion NP, Pipe Spring NM:
- Igniting, building, maintaining, attending or using a fire outside a fire structure that is provided by the National Park Service within a designated area, (agency approved fire pits and grills provided for in developed recreation sites and picnic areas). Stoves or grills that are solely fueled by liquid petroleum fuels are allowed in all locations.
- Smoking outside an enclosed vehicle or building unless stopped in an area at least three (6) feet in diameter that is clear of all flammable materials.
The following exceptions apply to Zion NP only:
- Watchman Campground and South Campground in Zion National Park are closed to campfires and charcoal fires due to the abundance of highly flammable cheat grass. Stoves or grills that are solely fueled by liquid petroleum fuels are allowed in all locations.
Bureau of Land Management: Color Country District (UT):
- No campfires, except in permanently constructed cement or metal fire pits provided in developed campgrounds and picnic areas.
- Grinding, cutting and welding metal.
- Operating or using any internal or external combustion engine without a spark arresting device properly installed, maintained and in effective working order.
- Detonation of fireworks and exploding targets/devices (Fire Prevention Order No. UT910-13-002).
- The following exceptions apply to Color Country District BLM lands only:
- Devices fueled by petroleum or liquid petroleum gas are allowed in all locations.
- Charcoal burning in developed campgrounds or picnic grounds within permanent fire rings or grills constructed of metal or concrete is allowed. In undeveloped camping locations, charcoal must be set in metal pans in areas clear of flammable vegetation within three diameter feet.
Bureau of Land Management: Arizona Strip District (AZ), including the NPS portion of the Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument:
- Building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire, campfire, charcoal, coal, or wood stove other than in a developed campsite or picnic areas of the Virgin River Campground and the Arizona side of the Stateline Campground. Persons using a device solely fueled by liquid petroleum or LPG fuels that can be turned on and off can only be used in an area that is barren or cleared of all overhead and surrounding flammable materials within 3 feet of the device.
- Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site/improved site or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable materials.
- Use of fireworks, flares, or other incendiary devices.
- Welding or the use of any torch or metal cutting equipment.
Bureau of Indian Affairs administered trust lands on the Shivwits Band and Kaibab Band Reservations:
- Igniting, building, maintaining, attending or using a fire outside a fire structure that is provided within a designated area, (agency approved fire pits and grills provided for in developed recreation sites and picnic areas). Stoves or grills that are solely fueled by liquid petroleum fuels are allowed in all locations.
- Smoking outside an enclosed vehicle or building unless stopped in an area at least three (3) feet in diameter that is clear of all flammable materials.
Please check with the appropriate agency for additional details.
