Fire Restrictions at Lake Mead National Recreation Area 19-08

Date: May 15, 2008
Contact: Roxanne Dey, 702.293.8691

Fire restrictions in effect at Lake Mead National Recreation Area are necessary to prevent wildfires during this period of extended drought and increased potential for wildfires in Nevada and Arizona. This restriction does not apply to National Park Service lands within the Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument.

Effective at 12:00 a.m. PDT on Friday, May 16, 2007 and until rescinded, the following acts are prohibited:

1. Building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire or campfire with any wood or charcoal burning device outside of a developed recreation site like a campground where a host is present and/or a fee is charged (see exceptions below).
2. Shoreline campfires in areas posted no campfires (ex: Boulder Beach), or in developed areas such as marinas, parking lots, and launch ramps.
3. Smoking outside of an enclosed vehicle or outside in any area that is not cleared of all flammable material for at least 10 feet. You must discard cigarettes in a car ashtray or an ashtray in a developed area.

Activities that will be allowed include:

1. Using portable stoves with gas, jellied petroleum, or pressurized liquid fuel.
2. Campfires with wood or charcoal burning devices will be allowed on the shoreline where natural vegetation is at least 100 feet from shoreline (except Boulder Beach, near marinas, launch ramps, parking lots, and any area posted no campfires allowed).Please extinguish all fires in windy conditions. 
3. Wood or charcoal fires in grills at developed picnic areas.
4. Barbeques are allowed on private boats outside of the harbors of Lake Mead and Lake Mohave. Rental boats are authorized to use barbeques attached to the vessel if allowed under boat rental agreement. All vessel barbeque fires must be at least 100 feet away from shoreline vegetation.

The following persons are exempt from the restrictions of this Fire Prevention Order:

1. Persons with a permit authorizing the activity.
2. Any Federal, State, or local officer or member of an organized fire fighting force in the performance of an official duty.

The use of fireworks, including "safe and sane,” is prohibited at all times on all public lands including Lake Mead National Recreation Area.

Any violation of Fire Restrictions is punishable by a fine of not more than $5,000 or imprisonment of not more than 6 months, or both Title 36, Code of Federal Regulations, Section 2.13 (c) under the National Park Service.

Questions about fire restrictions at Lake Mead National Recreation Area can be directed to the Visitor Center or Park Information Desk at: 702.293.8990 or 8906.