Fire restrictions lifted in southwest Idaho

By Steve Bertel

CREATED Oct. 4, 2012

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Cooler weather has prompted state and federal wildfire officials to lift the Stage 1 Fire Restrictions on all lands in southwest Idaho beginning Friday, October 5th.

The lift pertains to:

• All state and BLM administered lands outside incorporated city limits within Ada, Boise, Canyon, Elmore, Gem, Owyhee, Payette, Washington, Twin Falls, Lincoln, Cassia, Minidoka, Jerome and Gooding counties; and portions of Idaho, Adams, Valley, Custer, Elmore, Camas and Blaine counties;


o EXCEPT: Portion of Adams County within Hells Canyon National Recreation Area.


o Portion of Idaho County north of Salmon River (west of Riggins), east of Highway 95 (north of Riggins) and are not federal lands designated as wilderness.


• All Boise National Forest lands within Boise, Elmore, Gem and Ada counties, and a portion of Valley County;


• All Payette National Forest lands within Adams, Washington and Idaho counties, and a portion of Valley County; and


• All Sawtooth National Forest lands within Elmore and Camas counties, and portions of Blaine and Custer counties.


Lifting the restrictions means the public is free to build a campfire, use a charcoal barbeque or sheepherder stove. Fire managers remind people to use water to put out all campfires and to soak all charcoal and hot ash from barbeques and stoves.

“We recognize vegetation conditions are still dry, but cooler temperatures and shorter days are bringing relief,” said Boise National Forest Fire Management Officer Bob Shindelar.

A Stage 1 restriction remains in effect on private and State-owned land in Nez Perce, Clearwater, and Lewis counties and portions of Latah and Shoshone counties as per orders signed August 23, 2012. This restriction also remains in effect for the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest and associated Wilderness areas.

More information is available at ranger district offices, BLM and IDL offices. You can also visit the following websites: www.fs.usda.gov/boise, www.fs.usda.gov/payette, www.fs.usda.gov/sawtooth.

Make sure you also check with county and local officials regarding fire restrictions outside these entities.

(Boise National Forest photo: courtesy www.fs.usda.gov)