Additional Stage 1 Fire Restrictions take effect in Northern Idaho and Central Idaho

With the threat of wildfire danger increasing rapidly throughout many parts of northern and central Idaho, local land management agencies will implement additional Stage 1 Fire Restrictions inclusive of all land in the Coeur d’Alene and Grangeville Dispatch areas and Zone 4 of the Payette Dispatch area beginning at 11:59 p.m. on July 7.

Stage 1 Fire Restrictions will remain in effect until further notice. These restrictions are being implemented by agencies managing or providing wildland fire protection to public lands in the area, including the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Clearwater Potlatch Timber Protective Association (CPTPA), the Coeur d’Alene Tribe, Idaho Department of Lands (IDL), the Nez Perce Tribe, the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS). Fire restrictions are intended to decrease the chance of any preventable fires in the designated areas. 

Stage I restrictions will be in effect in the following areas: (For a detailed map showing all Idaho Fire Restriction Areas, please visit: http://idahofireinfo.blogspot.com/p/fire-restrictions.html).

Coeur d’Alene Fire Restrictions Area, All Zones: All lands located in Bonner, Boundary, Kootenai, Shoshone, Benewah, and Latah Counties.

Grangeville Fire Restrictions Area, Zone 1 and 2: All of Nez Perce, Clearwater, and Lewis Counties. Those portions of Idaho County that are north of the Salmon River (east of Riggins), west of Highway 95 (south of Riggins) and are not federal lands designated as wilderness. That portion of Adams County that lies within the Hells Canyon National Recreation Area.

Payette Fire Restrictions Area, Zone 4 only (visit the website listed above for more details).

All state, private, and BLM managed land (except that located within National Forest System boundaries) south of the main Salmon River to Smokey Boulder road. 

Under the Stage 1 Fire Restrictions, the following acts are prohibited on the restricted state and federally managed or protected lands, roads and trails:

Building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire or stove fire except within a designated recreation site, or on their own land, and only within an owner-provided structure.

Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle, building, or designated recreation site, or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable materials.

The following are exemptions to the Stage 1 Fire Restrictions:

Persons with a written permit that specifically authorizes the otherwise prohibited act.

Persons using fire fueled solely by liquid petroleum or LPG fuels. Such devices, including propane campfires, may be used only in an area cleared of flammable material.

Persons conducting activities in those designated areas where the activity is specifically authorized by written posted notice.

Any federal, state or local officer or member of an organized rescue or firefighting force in the performance of an official duty.

All land within a city boundary is exempted.

Other exemptions unique to each agency.

With the extreme temperatures the region is experiencing, fire managers are asking the public to be extra cautious when spending time in the outdoors. Idahoans are also reminded that fireworks are prohibited on forest and range lands in Idaho during closed fire season (May 10 through October 20).

Please visit http://idahofireinfo.blogspot.com for current information regarding fire restrictions or contact the local land management office.