Fire Season underway on BLM lands

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has issued special restrictions on all their public lands administered in Oregon and Washington beginning on May 27, until October 31.

Prohibitions under the order include:

1. Discharging or using fireworks or pyrotechnic devices.

2. Discharging or using combustible or explosive composition or chemical devices, including but not limited to exploding targets.

3. Discharging or using tracer, explosive, or incendiary ammunition.

4. Discharging steel component (core or jacket) ammunition, except a person with a valid State hunting license actively engaged in the legal take/pursuit of Game/Non-Game species in accordance with the current hunting seasons.

5. Releasing or causing to be released any sky lanterns, airborne paper lanterns, aerial luminaries and/or fire balloons.

6. Shooting at any metallic object, including but not limited to using metal targets for target shooting.

The BLM may issue permits to persons to specifically authorize them to engage in acts otherwise prohibited under the order:

1. Any federal, state, or local government employee acting in his or her official capacity.

2. Any member of an organized rescue or fire fighting force during performance of an official duty.

An exemption does not necessarily absolve an individual or organization from liability or responsibility for any fire caused by an exempted activity.

Any person who violates this fire prevention order may be tried before a United States Magistrate and fined up to $1,000 or imprisoned for up to one year, or both. Such violation may also be subject to the fines provided for under the order.