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Tiger4x4RV's avatar
Jun 21, 2014

Eastern Sierra BLM & USFS fire restrictions begin June 27

From Inyo NF website:

Fire Restrictions Effective June 27, 2014

Release Date: Jun 20, 2014

BLM Bishop Field Office & Inyo National Forest Announce Fire Restrictions

Effective Friday, June 27, the Bureau of Land Management(BLM) Bishop Field Office and the Inyo National Forest are implementing fire restrictions.

The restrictions are in effect on all BLM public lands managed by the Bishop Field Office and all Inyo National Forest lands.

“Ongoing drought conditions and well below average rain and snowfall this past winter have led to very dry conditions for this time of year,” said Inyo National Forest Supervisor, Ed Armenta. “These conditions can create an active fire season here in the Eastern Sierra. We have experienced 15+ fires already and numerous Red Flag Warning days.

Beginning June 27, and until further notice, the following restrictions will be in effect:

NO CAMPFIRES, briquette barbeques, or stove fires are allowed outside of designated developed recreation sites and specifically posted campsites or areas. A list of designated campgrounds and recreation sites is available at local Ranger Stations and Visitor Centers, and on the Inyo National Forest website, www.fs.usda.gov/inyo.

Persons with a valid California Campfire Permit (available free of charge at any Ranger Station or Visitor Center) are not exempt from the prohibitions but are allowed to use portable stoves or lanterns using gas, jellied petroleum, or pressurized liquid fuel.

NO FIREWORKS. It is prohibited to possess or discharge any fireworks.
NO SMOKING, except within 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 material.
NO WELDING or operating an acetylene torch with open flames, except by permit.
NO USE OF EXPLOSIVES, except by permit.

Inyo National Forest wilderness areas which are exempt from this order are Hoover, John Muir, Ansel Adams, Boundary Peak, White Mountains, Golden Trout, and South Sierra. Resorts, pack stations, recreation residences and other sites operated under special use permit from the U.S. Forest Service or BLM may be exempt from the special orders, as long as any fire activity is conducted in compliance with their permit. Special use permit holders should contact their permit administrator to make sure they are on the list of exempt sites, or check the information for special use permit exemptions on the Inyo National Forest Website, www.fs.usda.gov/inyo.

Link to press release, lists of areas, official forest order:
link

4 Replies

  • Jefe, I see a need for a new line of TCs -- "up-armored" tough skins for those really tight trails! Preferably with a steel roof.

    We saw a young couple taking a shiny new SUV crossover -- not very high clearance -- on those trails. It looked like a rental car -- hopefully, they paid for the extra insurance package!
  • Dan,
    Thanks. We've taken that trail before in the TC. We only got about 2/3's of the way up when the trees started to close in. since we're 84" wide, i turned around instead of getting our epidermis ripped.
    jefe.
    I'm thinking the little treed knowl almost due south from this trail. It has a walk-to view of Mono Lake and we've taken the switchbacks down the face before, all the way down to 395.That had a pucker factor what with the boulders, wash outs, and cave-ins.
    jefe
  • Jefe -- if you want cool and high, can you make it up to Kavanaugh Ridge at 11,000 feet? It's a tough road, but I have seen some TC folks in that general area. We were hiking there last week -- no way our trailer can make it there. If you go, bring a sweatshirt!
  • El Tigre,
    Similar fire prohibitions have gone up in the Sierra National Forest, a place that had just opened when bro John and I were there last Sept/Oct. You were there at the beginning of that trip.
    The outlook for a big El Nino year (read lots of precip) for us is waxing and waning. Next week, bro John, Krys, Jeanie, and I will caravan all around the east side dry camping up as high as the law will allow, alas with no Maytag firebox in sight.
    jefe