Tahoe National Forest Lifts Stage 2 Fire Restrictions

LOST SIERRA — On Tuesday, October 7, the Tahoe National Forest rescinded its Stage 2 Fire Restrictions order, now allowing fires at most designated campfire rings in forest campgrounds under Stage 1 Restrictions. The change also triggers an ordinance in Sierra County, which means county residents may now build outdoor fires on private property.

Deputy Yuba District Ranger Amber Nelson explained, “This recent rainfall was enough to get us out of stage two, meaning that most of our developed recreation sites will be allowed to have campfires in them for the remainder of the season.” Officials made the decision after a particularly wet spell in the region, during which Downieville accumulated nearly two inches of rainfall. The Stage 1 restrictions order currently in effect, which still disallows most ignition outside of campfire rings, expires on October 31, should no further action be taken. Nelson clarified, however, that most campsites in the forest will close for the season on October 15.

The Plumas National Forest also dropped its restrictions to Stage 1 on September 25. Restrictions at both forests now broadly mirror each other, although the Plumas Forest makes a specific restriction against welding or using an acetylene or other torch with an open flame, whereas the Tahoe Forest does not.

More information about the Tahoe Forest’s restrictions is available from https://www.fs.usda.gov/r05/tahoe/alerts/stage-1-fire-restrictions. Plumas Forest restrictions information is available at https://www.fs.usda.gov/r05/plumas/alerts/stage-i-fire-restrictions-0.