On Monday, May 24, the Inyo National Forest and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Bishop Field Office announced Stage 1 fire restrictions effective on all federal lands under their jurisdiction due to very high fire danger, drought conditions, extremely dry vegetation, and other factors. See below for an overview of the restrictions. You can view the full order on the Inyo National Forest website.
Please read the following fire restrictions carefully:
- No campfires, briquette barbeques, or stove fires are allowed outside of fire rings or fire pits at designated developed recreation sites. The list of designated campgrounds and recreation sites is available at visitor centers and is posted here for Inyo National Forest and available here for the BLM Bishop Field Office.
- Valid California Campfire Permits are required. These are available for free at US Forest Service visitor centers, BLM and CalFire offices, or online. Permits are not exempt from the prohibitions, but allow people to use portable stoves or lanterns using gas, jellied petroleum, or pressurized liquid fuel.
- No fireworks. Possessing or discharging any fireworks, including “safe and sane” fireworks, is prohibited.
- No smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site, or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable material.
- No tools powered by internal combustion engines (such as chainsaws or lawn mowers) can be used off designated roads or trails.
- No motorized vehicles off designated roads or trails.
- No welding or operating acetylene or other torches with open flame.
Top photo: the August 2020 Beach Fire by Santiago Escruceria.