The Bureau of Land Management is implementing fire restrictions across all BLM-managed lands in the West Desert District due to rapidly increasing fire danger. The order, which went into effect June 4, covers a wide range of Utah counties including Box Elder, Cache, Juab, Millard, Morgan, Rich, Salt Lake, Summit, Tooele, Utah, Wasatch, and Weber.
Duration of prevention order
The prevention order remains in effect until it is officially rescinded.
Prohibited activities and equipment
Under the new restrictions, several activities are prohibited on public lands. This includes the use of any steel component ammunition of any caliber and the use of any steel component targets. Additionally, the use of sky lanterns, Chinese lanterns, fire balloons, acetylene balloons, or similar devices is banned.
Off-highway vehicle requirements
Off-Highway Vehicles must be equipped with a properly installed and maintained spark arrestor that meets the 80 percent efficiency level standard as determined by Society of Automotive Engineers practices J335 and J350. The BLM advises target shooters to check their ammunition for steel using a magnet, noting that packaging may not always indicate its presence.
Year-round ammunition and firework bans
Furthermore, the BLM statewide fire prevention order UT914-25-001 prohibits the use of fireworks, explosives, and tracer or incendiary ammunition throughout the year.
Recommended wildfire safety precautions
To help prevent wildfires, officials recommend several safety precautions for the public. These include fully extinguishing campfires, avoiding building fires when winds reach 15 mph or higher, and avoiding target shooting in hot, dry, or windy conditions.
Additional visitor safety tips
Visitors should choose backstops free of rocks and dry grass to avoid sparks from bullets hitting rocks. Other recommendations include avoiding metal cutting, welding, or grinding near dry vegetation, keeping trailer chains lifted above the ground, and avoiding parking hot vehicles over dry grass. The BLM also advises maintaining trailer tires, wheels, and bearings and checking off-highway vehicle exhaust systems annually.
The public is reminded to use caution when visiting public lands and should be prepared with water, a shovel, and a fire extinguisher during the dry summer months. In the event of a fire, individuals should call 911 immediately.
Prevention orders can be found at utahfireinfo.gov or on the Bureau of Land Management website.
