Stage 1 fire restrictions take affect Aug. 21

The Elk Complex Fire in August 2013, combined with the Pony Complex Fire, scorched more than 265,000 acres before they were contained.

With the threat of wildfire danger increasing throughout southwest Idaho, including parts of Elmore County, local wildland fire management agencies will implement Stage 1 fire restrictions starting at midnight Friday, Aug. 21.

The restrictions are intended to decrease the chance of any preventable fires in the designated areas and will remain in effect until further notice.

Areas identified in the Stage 1 fire restriction order include agency and state and private forest and range lands protected by the Boise National Forest, Boise District Bureau of Land Management, Payette National Forest with the exception of the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness, Southern Idaho Timber Protective Association as well as state and endowment lands.

Locally, the order includes areas in Elmore and Boise counties outside of incorporated city limits. It also includes all Bureau of Reclamation lands surrounding Arrowrock and Anderson Ranch Reservoirs along with the administrative boundary of Lucky Peak Lake to Arrowrock Dam, the south shore of Arrowrock Reservoir and the portion of Elmore County that lies south of the South Fork Boise River to Anderson Ranch Dam. The boundary extends south along Anderson Dam Road to Highway 20, east on Highway 20 to the Elmore and Gooding county line and south to the interstate.

Stage 1 restrictions will also include all of Owyhee County west of the Bruneau Canyon.

Under the fire restriction, the following acts are prohibited on public land, roads and trails.

* Building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire or stove fire except within a designated recreation site and only within a fire structure provided by the administrative agency.

* 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 materials.

Wildland fire management officials highlighted the following exemptions to the Stage 1 restrictions:

* People with a written permit that specifically authorizes the otherwise prohibited act.

* People using fire fueled solely by liquid petroleum or LPG fuels.

* Individuals conducting activities in designated areas where the activity is specifically authorized by written posted notice.

* Any federal, state or local officer or member of an organized rescue or firefighting force in the performance of their official duties.

* All land within a city boundary is exempted. However, people are required to adhere to burn bans imposed by city and county officials.