Stage 1 fire restrictions go into effect across central and northwestern Nevada due to rising fire danger, impacting public and unincorporated private lands starting Tuesday, July 1.

The restrictions apply to lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management, the United States Forest Service, the Santa Rosa District, and the Nevada Division of Forestry State Parks Division.

Affected counties include Churchill, Lyon (north of Interstate 80), Humboldt, Pershing, Eureka, Lander, Nye, and Esmeralda.

The restrictions prohibit building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire (wood, charcoal, or any other material), campfire, or stove fire, except by permit or within developed fee campgrounds or picnic areas.

Only portable stoves using gas, jellied petroleum, or pressurized liquid fuel are allowed.

Smoking is limited to enclosed cars or buildings, developed recreation sites, or areas at least three feet in diameter that are cleared of all flammable material.

Vehicles or motorized equipment cannot be operated or parked on dried or cured vegetation. Welding, metal grinding, or using a torch with an open flame is not allowed without a permit.

Additional restrictions by agency include:

Bureau of Land Management, Winnemucca and Battle Mountain Districts:

  • Use of fireworks, pyrotechnic, or incendiary devices is prohibited.
  • Use of explosives or binary explosive targets is not allowed.
  • Discharging a firearm using tracer, incendiary, or steel-component ammunition is prohibited. Tracer and incendiary ammunition are always banned on public lands.
  • Operating combustion engines without a properly maintained spark arrestor is not permitted.

Nevada Division of Forestry:

Fire restrictions apply to South Fork, Rye Patch, Wildhorse, Cave Lake, and Ward Charcoal Ovens State Parks.

Campfires may be restricted on a day-to-day basis depending on local weather. Red Flag Warnings or other events may trigger posted bans by Nevada State Parks park staff.

USDA Forest Service, Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, Santa Rosa Ranger District:

  • Campfires are only allowed in approved fire pits or grills within designated developed recreation sites, which must be marked with Forest Service signage and identified on agency maps.
  • Use of chainsaws or equipment with internal combustion engines is prohibited from 1 p.m. to 1 a.m. during fire restrictions.

For further information on fire activity, prevention, and restriction orders, the public is encouraged to visit nevadafireinfo.org.

For agency-specific questions, contact:

  • Bureau of Land Management Winnemucca District Office: (775) 623-1500
  • Bureau of Land Management Battle Mountain District Office: (775) 635-4000
  • USDA Forest Service Santa Rosa Ranger District Office: (775) 621-5025
  • Nevada Division of Forestry: (775) 684-2500