As North State wildfires ignite, more fire restrictions kick in on federal land

With lightning fires igniting and high temperatures and dry conditions persisting across Northern California, federal officials have expanded the areas under heightened fire restrictions.

The Lassen National Forest on Thursday became the latest agency to tighten activities in an effort to reduce fire starts on federal land. The U.S. Bureau of Land Management and the Shasta-Trinity National Forest last week announced tighter restrictions on campfires and other activities on public lands in the North State.

The new fire-use restrictions were implemented the same day the U.S. Forest Service officials reported three new fires in the Shasta-Trinity forest that started over the weekend following a lightning storm that moved through the state. The three fires were either contained or controlled by Thursday.

A total of 94 lightning strikes from the storm were reported statewide, forest service officials said.

The Hill Fire, which started July 15, had burned more than 4,000 acres as of Thursday in an area south of Highway 299 in Humboldt County, according to the forest service.

Also on July 18, the Lassen National Forest announced fire-use prohibitions similar to those as the Shasta-Trinity forest and the BLM. The Lassen forest covers large swaths of eastern Shasta, Tehama, Plumas and Lassen counties.

Fire-use restrictions prohibit the following:

• Building a fire or stove fire, using charcoal, coal or briquettes, except in developed recreation sites.
• Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site or while stopped in an area at least 3 feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of flammable material.
• Welding, or operating any acetylene or other torch with an open flame.
• Operating or using any internal or external combustion engine without a spark arresting device that is properly installed, maintained, and in effective working order.

Reporter Damon Arthur welcomes story tips at 530-338-8834, by email at damon.arthur@redding.com and on Twitter at @damonarthur_RS. Help local journalism thrive by subscribing today!