Lassen National Forest takes steps to reduce human-caused wildfires
Lassen National Forest is enacting Forest Order No. 06-20-06 to issue fire restrictions within the LNF to protect natural resources and to provide for public and employee safety by reducing potential exposure to COVID-19. This order will prohibit campfires outside of Forest campgrounds and wilderness areas; smoking, except in certain areas; and use of combustion engines off National Forest System roads and trails. This forest order will be in effect from May 28 through Nov. 30.
The Caribou, Ishi, and Thousand Lakes wilderness areas are exempted from this order because winter weather has moderated the susceptibility of fuel conditions to fire and visitor use is low.
“In our continuing efforts, our priority is to protect the health and well-being of our first responders and the public. We are taking these additional precautions now to prevent wildfire ignitions on the forest,” said Deb Bumpus, forest supervisor, LNF. “These precautions include assessing the current availability of firefighting resources, reviewing the methods by which the agency fights fires, and issuing fire restrictions.”
This Forest order includes the following exemptions:
1) An exemption for any federal, state or local officer, or member of an organized rescue or fire fighting force in the performance of an official duty;
2) An exemption for those persons with a valid California Campfire Permit who desire to use a portable campfire pit, stove or lantern that uses gas, kerosene, jellied petroleum or pressurized liquid fuel, with a shut-off valve, in an area at least three feet from any flammable materials;
3) Those persons with a valid 2020 Forest Products Removal Permit (firewood permit) from the United States Forest Service are not exempt from the prohibitions listed above, but may operate an internal combustion engine off National Forest System roads and trails only to the extent necessary to cut firewood, provided the cutting of firewood is done in compliance with the terms of the permit;
4) An exemption for persons with a valid Forest Service special use authorization for a recreation residence, resort, or organizational camp from Prohibition No. 1 of the order, while at their recreation residence, resort, or organizational camp; and
5) An exemption from Prohibition No. 3 for persons with a Forest Service non-special-use written authorization to conduct non-recreational activities, such as harvesting timber or forest products, or grazing livestock.
Forest visitors will still be able to use pressurized liquid or gas devices (stoves, grills or lanterns) with shut-off valves, in an area at least three feet from any flammable materials.
For additional information on closed areas, customers needing information, call the supervisor’s office at 257-2151; the Almanor Ranger District at 258-2141; the Eagle Lake Ranger District at 257-4188; or the Hat Creek Ranger District, 336-5521 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday for customer service.
More information is available on our website at fs.usda.gov/detailfull/lassen/home/?cid=FSEPRD725812&width=full.
