Because of the current fire risk condition throughout southern Idaho, the Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) is imposing a Stage I Fire Restriction on IDFG-owned and managed lands statewide, effective immediately.
Until further notice, the following restriction applies to all Wildlife Management Areas and fishing access areas owned or managed by IDFG.
Stage I Fire Restrictions
Building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire, campfire, or stove fire except within a designated recreation site, within a fire structure provided by the administrative agency, or on their own land and only within an owner-provided fire structure (see definition below)
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.
Exemptions
Persons with a written permit that specifically authorizes the otherwise prohibited act.
Persons using fire fueled solely by liquid petroleum or LPG fuels.
Persons conducting activities in those 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 an official duty.
All land within a city boundary is exempted
Other exemptions unique to each agency
Violation of the above prohibited acts is punishable by fine of not more that $1,000 and/or imprisonment for not more than 12 months (Title 18 USC 1856, Title 43 USC 1701, Title 43 9212.4, and/or appropriate State laws).
The wildlife management areas covered by this announcement include: Tex Creek, Sand Creek, Mud Lake, Market Lake, Deer Parks, Cartier Slough, Sterling, Portneuf, Blackfoot, Georgetown, Montpelier, Hagerman, Niagara Springs, CJ Strike, Camas Prairie Centennial, Billingsley Creek, Big Cottonwood, Carey Lake, Cecil D. Andrus, Payette, Montour, Boise River, Fort Boise, Craig Mountain, Red River, Boundary Creek, McArthur Lake, Pend Oreille, Farragut, Coeur d’Alene, Snow Peak,. Signs are being posted at many of these areas, but the restrictions are in effect whether or not signs are present.
According to Upper Snake Regional Habitat Manager Rob Cavallaro, “Dry conditions around the State have made the potential for wildfires extremely high. As a result, IDFG has implemented a restriction on all open fires on IDFG- managed lands and access sites in the Upper Snake, Southeast, Southwest, Magic Valley, Clearwater, Panhandle, and Salmon regions. The use of exploding targets and fireworks are always prohibited on IDFG owned lands.”
IDFG is also asking visitors to these lands to be cautious of the potential for fires caused by other sources as well.
Fire restrictions will remain in place until fire conditions change and the public will be notified at that time. Anyone with questions should contact the Upper Snake Regional Office at 208-525-7290, the Southeast Regional Office at 208-232-4703, the Southwest Regional Office at 208-465-8465, the Magic Valley Regional Office at 208-324-4359, the Panhandle Regional Office at 208-769-1414, the Clearwater Regional Office at 208-799-5010 and the Salmon Regional Office at 208-756-2271.
DEFINITIONS
OWNER PROVIDED STRUCTURE: A permanent metal and concrete improvement specifically designed for the purpose of containing a campfire or cooking fire, provided by the agency or landowner, with a clearance of ten feet on all sides that is free of any flammable vegetation. This does not include a metal fire pan.