The Kern County Fire Department will increase the level of fire restrictions beginning on May 28th, 2016.
Five years of drought coupled with widespread tree mortality throughout Kern County have Firefighters at the ready. Upcoming summer temperatures and low fuel moistures have prompted fire officials to increase fire restrictions.
Kern County Fire Department officials will keep these restrictions in effect until further notice. Beginning May 28th, 2016, campfires will not be allowed in any county park in the mountainous areas. The parks are: Greenhorn Mountain Park, Tehachapi Mountain Park, and Frazier Mountain Park. Stoves and lanterns with shut-off valves that use gas, jellied petroleum or pressurized liquid fuel are the only fuels that will be allowed in the authorized campsites providing that the operator possesses a valid campfire permit.
Permits can be issued by the US Forest Service (USFS), Bureau of Land Management (BLM), National Park Service (NPS), and the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) or online at PreventWildfireCA.org/Permits.
When using a stove, remember to clear all flammable material at least five feet in all directions from the stove, have a shovel available, and ensure that a responsible person attends the stove at all times when in use.
Operating an internal combustion engine outside properly designated roads or trails, welding, and using explosives will all be strictly prohibited during these increased restrictions. If riding a motorized vehicle on trails, ensure your engine is tuned, operating properly, and has an approved spark arrester. Smoking will only be allowed in enclosed vehicles and within authorized recreation sites.
These restrictions will remain in place until the end of the fire season, normally in late autumn. Anyone causing a wildfire could be liable for all costs associated with suppressing the fire. Visitors to Kern County Parks and adjacent Bureau of Land Management and Forest Service lands need to carefully follow each agency’s current fire restrictions. If you spot a fire, call 911. “One less spark, one less wildfire.”
