News - State
Fire restrictions on Rio Grande National Forest
Posted: Jun 19, 2011 9:47 AM by AP Posted by James H Egbert
MONTE VISTA, Colo. (AP) - The Rio Grande National Forest is implementing fire restrictions starting Monday.
Fire operations specialist Paul Duarte of the San Luis Valley Public Lands Center says not a lot of vegetation has turned green, and most of the forest is dry.
The restrictions prohibit fires, campfires or stove fires unless they're in an established fire grate in a developed campground. Smoking isn't allowed unless it's within an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site, or if there's nothing flammable within three feet.
Also prohibited are welding and operating chainsaws or other items with an internal combustion engine, unless they have working, spark-arresting devices.
Lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management in the San Luis Valley and the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve already have similar restrictions.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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