SBNF - Change in Fire Restrictions

[Old Fart]

Mods - if this belongs somewhere else, please feel free to move it.

(bottom line - there are no more fires allowed in Yellow Post sites for the remaining fire season)

ORDER NO. 09-3
TEMPORARY RESTRICTIONS
SAN BERNARDINO NATIONAL FOREST



Pursuant to 36 CFR 261.50(a) and (b), and to protect natural resources and provide for public safety, the following acts are prohibited within the San Bernardino National Forest. This Order is effective from May 21, 2009, through the end of the official 2009 fire season.


1. Building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire, stove fire, or charcoal fire outside of a picnic area, campground, group campground or undeveloped campground. 36 CFR 261.52(a).

2. Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, within 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. 36 CFR 261.52(d).

3. Welding, or operating an acetylene or other torch with an open flame.
36 CFR 261.52(i).

4. Using an explosive. 36 CFR 261.52(b).

5. Discharging a firearm, air rifle, or gas gun, except in the public shooting ranges that are operated under a special use permit issued by the Forest Service. Persons engaged in lawful hunting are exempt from this prohibition. 36 CFR 261.58(m).


Pursuant to 36 CFR 261.50(e), the following persons are exempt from this Order:


1. Any Federal, State or local officer, or member of an organized rescue or fire fighting force in the performance of an official duty.

2. Persons with a permit from the Forest Service specifically authorizing the otherwise prohibited act or omission.

3. Persons with a valid California Campfire Permit are not exempt from the prohibitions listed above. However, persons with a valid California Campfire Permit may use a portable lantern or stove using gas, jellied petroleum, or pressurized liquid fuel.



These prohibitions are in addition to the general prohibitions in 36 CFR Part 261, Subpart
A.

Done at San Bernardino, California this 20th day of May, 2009.



_______________________
THOMAS F. GILLETT
Acting Forest Supervisor

A violation of these prohibitions is punishable by a fine of not more than $5,000 for an individual or $10,000 for an organization, or imprisonment for not more than six months or both. 16 USC 551 and 18 USC 3559, 3571, and 3581.

[DaveK]

Jeff:

This was posted in the best spot. Thanks!

I did have one question. I was not sure if I interpreted the following correctly:

Building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire, stove fire, or charcoal fire outside of a picnic area, campground, group campground or undeveloped campground.

Does this mean that campfires are allowed inside picnic areas, campgrounds or undeveloped campgrounds? And is the term, "undeveloped campground" mean the same as a campground under dispersed camping rules?

This is obviously something the Summer Fest campers need to know. Thanks again for posting this type of information. It is great to have you here!!!

[Old Fart]

Thanks Dave - I didn't see a topic area that was exactly what I wanted, so took a chance.

SBNF (and almost if not all of the National Forests) only allow campfires in established campgrounds, group camps and Yellow Post sites (basically anywhere we've put in a fire ring) - we stopped allowing campfires in dispersed camping several years back to comply with a mandate from Department of Agriculture (our boss) - prior to that we (SBNF) were one of the last holdouts that DID allow fires in dispersed camping. You can still have a fuel stove, lantern, heater, etc - just nothing that produces ash (primarilly wood and charcoal - but I did have a camper the other week that was trying to argue that his "Presto logs" didn't produce ash).

All of the allowed sources require a California Campfire permit - which can be had at any Ranger Station, online - or you can hunt me down at LAX or in Lakewood. (I actually issued one to a RC flying buddy of mine at Prado the other weekend)

[gon2srf]

As far as SummerFest goes Dave, as I recall the Pine Flats Equestrian site has one large "group size" ring and two nice BBQ's, anyone camping there should be using the existing fire ring.