Adams County included in BLM fire restriction

The Spokane District-administered lands of the Bureau of Land Management are now under a regulated fire closure. The regulated fire closure on lands administered by the Spokane District of (BLM) took effect at 12:01 a.m. Aug. 25, 2011.

The following eastern Washington counties will be affected by the closure: Adams, Asotin, Benton, Chelan, Columbia, Douglas, Ferry, Franklin, Garfield, Grant, Kittitas, Klickitat, Lincoln, Okanogan, Pend Oreille, Spokane, Stevens, Walla Walla, Whitman, and Yakima.

Off-highway vehicle and all-terrain vehicle (ORV/ATV) use will be allowed in the Juniper Dunes Area but no camp fires are allowed. Be aware that this area may be closed as conditions require.

The regulated fire closure prohibits the following acts on affected lands:

• Operating any type of motorized vehicle off developed roadways. Parking of vehicles off roadways must be done in an area barren of flammable materials.

NOTE: Developed roadways are those that are clear of flammable debris berm to berm.

• Building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire or stove fire – including charcoal briquette fire – is prohibited.

NOTE: Liquefied and bottled gas stoves and heaters are permitted provided they are used within an area at least 10 feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable material. Fires within BLM- provided steel rings at improved campgrounds will be deemed legal only at the Yakima River Canyon, Coffeepot, Liberty, Chopaka, Washburn, Pacific Lake and Twin Lakes sites.

• Smoking while traveling in timber, brush or grass areas is prohibited except in vehicles on roads, or cleared areas at least three feet in diameter, or on boats on rivers and/or lakes.

Ignition of fireworks is prohibited on all public lands within the Spokane District. Violation of these prohibitions is punishable by a fine of not more than $1,000, imprisonment of not more than 12 months, or both.

Complete details on the restrictions are available online at the BLM website: http://www.blm.gov/or/districts/spokane/fire/index.php.

For additional information, contact the Spokane BLM District Office, at (509) 536-1200.