Posted on: December 14th, 2012

	Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests and Pawnee National Grassland
Forest Visitors Reminded to Be Careful With Fire, Some Restrictions Going into Effect

 

www.fs.usda.gov/arp

Contact: Tammy Williams, 970-295-6693

 

Fort Collins, Colo. (Dec. 5, 2012) –   A U.S. Forest Service restriction on the discharging of firearms is going into effect on Saturday, Dec. 8 on portions of the Boulder Ranger District. This temporary restriction complements the fire ban put in place by Boulder County earlier this week. The Boulder County fire ban also applies to National Forest System lands in the county.

The restriction prohibits discharging a firearm on National Forest System lands in the geographic area encompassed on the west by Colo. Highways 7 and 72; on the north by the Boulder County line and Johnny Park Road (National Forest System Road 118); east by the National Forest boundary; and the south by Colo. Highway 72. This area has a high concentration of shooting activities and this restriction limits shooting activities as a potential ignition source.

Legal hunting activities are exempt from the U.S. Forest Service order. Not complying with this order could result a fine of up to $5,000 for an individual and $10,000 for an organization or imprisonment of up to six months or both and a mandatory appearance in Federal Court.  Persons responsible for causing a wildfire may also be held accountable for the suppression costs of that fire.

 

Fire danger conditions vary on the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests and Pawnee National Grassland (ARP) and can change rapidly this time of year. Visitors are reminded to use extra caution with fire especially on windy days. Some areas of the ARP have snow and can only be accessed by snowmobile while others have drier conditions.  On any given day the fire danger can be low or high depending on your location and the weather.

U.S. Forest Service staff together with cooperators will continue to monitor fire conditions and will consider a variety of options including additional restrictions if weather remains dry and lessening or rescinding restrictions if a wetter weather pattern arrives.

 

The ARP has recently staffed some fire engines not normally on duty this time of year and has worked with the Type I Incident Management Team assigned to the Fern Lake Fire to provide some initial attack support and share resources including the air resources if new fires start.

 

For a copy of this restriction and map visit www.fs.usda.gov/goto/arp/targetshooting or contact the Boulder Ranger District at 303-541-2500.

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SUPERVISOR’S OFFICE 2150 Centre Ave., Building E Fort Collins, CO 80526 970-295-6700	BOULDER RANGER DISTRICT 2140 Yarmouth Avenue Boulder, CO 80301 303-541-2500	CANYON LAKES RANGER DISTRICT 2150 Centre Ave., Building E Fort Collins, CO 80526 970-295-6700
CLEAR CREEK RANGER DISTRICT 101 Highway 103 P.O. Box 3307 Idaho Springs, CO 80452 303-567-3000	PAWNEE NATIONAL GRASSLAND 660 O Street Greeley, CO 80631 970-346-5000	SULPHUR RANGER DISTRICT 9 Ten Mile Drive P.O. Box 10 Granby, CO 80446 970-887-4100