Fire restrictions implemented in Western Nevada

Drought conditions, increasing daytime temperatures and high winds have prompted the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Carson City District Office, the Carson and Bridgeport Ranger Districts of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, and the Nevada Division of Forestry’s Sierra Forest Fire Protection District to announce the implementation of fire restrictions Tuesday, July 1, 2008, and lasting until further notice.

Vegetation in western Nevada and eastern California has dried out significantly since receiving only about 50-percent of normal snowfall last winter. A large crop of grass and brush is evident at lower elevations and trees and other forest vegetation at higher elevations are quickly drying out. The public is encouraged to safely enjoy the public lands, bearing in mind that the recent Martis, Waterfall, Andrew and Hawken fires were all human-caused.

Motorists are advised to be careful when driving off-road, because hot exhaust systems can ignite dry grasses. The potential for another devastating fire during the summer is very real. Report fires to the Interagency Dispatch Center, Minden, Nevada,   (775) 883-5995, or dial 911.

Fuels reduction continuing on East Carson Range

CARSON CITY, Nev.–The Nevada Division of Forestry and Division of State Parks are continuing fuels reduction work in northwest Carson City. Work consisting primarily of brush removal and thinning smaller diameter trees started as a result of the 2004 Waterfall Fire. Approximately 34 acres have been treated since work began in 2005.

“In 2007, the Division of State Parks and the Division of Forestry worked together to complete a 10-year fuels management plan to address the threat of wildfires starting in or moving through Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park,” said David Morrow, Division of State Parks’ administrator.

Carson City’s Firefighting Sheep (video)

The sheep are back grazing cheatgrass in the hills of Carson City, Nevada. Ann Bollinger from Carson City Parks and Open Space discusses the grazing project and how targeted grazing can be used to help manage invasive weeds and protect homes from wildfires.

Crews work to restore Waterfall fire area

With the choke of a drill’s carburetor and a whiff of gas, the workers on a south facing slope in Ash Canyon went to work–digging, boring holes and planting.

“Yeah, you know it’s a nice day when you do this for a living and there’s no place you’d rather be,” said Nevada Department of Forestry Fire Captain Joe Fording, who this week and next will help supervise more than two dozen crewmembers slated to plant some 7,500 Jeffrey pine seedlings on 40-plus scarred acres ravaged by the Waterfall fire in July 2004.

Read the complete story at the Nevada Appeal.