(Lander, WY) – The County Commissioners held an emergency meeting today, July 12, where the decision was made/announced to place Fremont County under Stage 1 fire restrictions, effective as of today, until further notice.
The discussion was led by County Fire Warden Craig Haslam, who said that conditions are getting hotter and drier, and that he consulted fire chiefs around the area, who were all in consensus.
The Stage 1 fire restrictions state the following:
This ban extends only to property within unincorporated areas of the county as each municipality regulates land within its own boundaries. There is an extreme danger of fire throughout Fremont County and there is a presence of an excessive amount of flammable materials and the high fire danger is aggravated by open burning and the use of incendiary devices. Any open fire or discharge of any Class A, B and/or C fireworks is prohibited on all state and private land, including but not limited to, all lands in Fremont County or in which Fremont County holds or owns an interest, including county roads, easements and rights-of-ways in Fremont County.
The prohibition is subject to the following exemptions:
A. Trash or refuse burned between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. inside containers equipped with spark arresters and are located within a cleared area that has at least fifteen (15) foot radius, and comply with all other laws and requirements.
B. Camp fires at residences or campsites contained within an established fire ring, or portable fire pits with screens or spark arrestor system within a minimum of a fifteen (15) foot cleared radius of burnable materials.
C. Use of acetylene cutting torches, electric arc welder, or metal grinding in a cleared radius of a fifteen (15) foot radius.
D. The use of portable stoves, enclosed grills, lanterns using gas, jellied petroleum, pressurized liquid fuel or fully enclosed (sheepherder type) stove and open fire branding activities in a cleared radius of fifteen (15) feet of burnable materials is permitted.
E. Use of chain saw provided the chain saw has spark arresters properly installed and functioning.
F. Federal, State or local fire or law enforcement officers participating in fire, emergency, and law enforcement activities.
G. Smoking in 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.
H. Agricultural irrigated land.
The County Fire Warden shall promptly notify the Board of County Commissioners of any changes in the severity of the fire danger.
W.S. §35-10-207 will be strictly enforced which imposes a fine not to exceed $750 or imprisonment not to exceed sixty (60) days or both.
The Wind River Reservation is already under fire restrictions until further notice.