LAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev. – The USDA Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) is enacting campfire restrictions to protect the health and safety of employees and communities, effective immediately and until further notice. Outside of developed campgrounds and certain permitted facilities, igniting, building, maintaining or using a fire on national forest land in Lake Tahoe will be prohibited.
Forest Service officials said they are taking this necessary step to ensure that firefighters are available to safely respond and manage incidents. In California, 95 percent of all wildfires are human-caused.
With the above-normal fire season projected in much of California and the combined potential for wildfires and smoke to impact communities and firefighters, they said they need to reduce or eliminate this large ignition source and protect firefighting resources.
Forest visitors will still be able to use pressurized liquid or gas devices (stoves, grills, or lanterns) with shut-off valves, in an area at least three feet from any flammable materials.
Find out where campfires are allowed at https://go.usa.gov/xwb6w.
For questions, please visit www.fs.usda.gov/ltbmu at pa_ltbmu@fs.fed.us.