Single Publication

United States Department of the Interior
BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT
Vale District Office
100 Oregon Street, Vale, Oregon 97918
blm.gov/office/vale-district-office
Notice of Emergency Fire Prevention Orders on Public Land within the Vale District, Bureau of
Land Management (BLM) and Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) Fee and Withdrawn Lands.
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Vale, Oregon / Reclamation, PN Region
ACTION: Emergency Fire Prevention Orders for lands administered by and within the boundaries
of the Vale District BLM.
 

SUMMARY: The BLM and Reclamation are temporarily prohibiting some activities and uses of the
public lands within the boundaries of the Vale District (BLM) during periods of high
fire danger. This regulation is necessary to protect natural resources and the public's
health and safety.
 

DATES: Beginning on July 12, 2024, and will remain in effect until modified or rescinded.
DISCUSSION: These orders will apply to all public lands administered by the Vale District BLM and
fee and withdrawn lands under the jurisdiction of Reclamation within the boundaries of
the BLM Vale District. These agencies have determined that these orders are necessary
to protect natural resources and provide for public safety. Reclamation lands
administered by agencies other than the BLM will determine their own restrictions.
Pursuant to 43 CFR 9212.2 and 43 CFR 423.3(d), the following acts are prohibited on
lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management (Vale District) and Reclamation
jurisdictional lands within the Vale District (BLM):
Prohibited activities:
 

1. Building, maintaining, or attending any open fire. This includes campfires, debris bums, woodfired
stove/ smoker/ portable braziers, oil-fueled open flame devices, and charcoal briquette
fires. EXCEPTION: Self-contained liquefied and bottled gas equipment for cooking, warming,
and lighting is permitted. When used outside of developed recreation sites, they must be within
an area at least 10 feet in diameter that is clear of all vegetative materials.
2. Smoking outside of a vehicle, trailer, or building, except within areas barren of all vegetative
materials for at least 6 feet in diameter, or aboard boats on rivers and lakes.
3. Possessing, discharging, or using any type of fireworks, explosives, or other explosive or
chemical composition pyrotechnic device, including exploding targets.
4. Discharging or using tracer, steel component (core or jacket), or incendiary ammunition.
EXCEPTION: Using steel component ammunition with a valid State hunting license while
actively engaged in the legal pursuit/take of Game/Non-Game species in accordance with
current hunting seasons.
5. Shooting at any metallic object, including but not limited to using metal targets for target
shooting.
6. Operating a chainsaw or blowtorch, or the cutting, grinding, and/or welding of metal.
7. Releasing or causing to be released any airborne paper lanterns (sky lanterns), fire balloons, or
other aerial luminaries.
8. Operating or parking an internal combustion motorized vehicle outside of existing roads or
ways, or traversing roads with vegetative material that touches the undercarriage of the vehicle.
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9. Operating any other equipment with an internal combustion engine in an area that is not clear of
vegetative material up to 10 feet in diameter.
10. Operating any internal combustion motorized vehicle or equipment that is wider than 46 inches
or has a dry weight of 800 pounds or more, on public lands without a shovel not less than 26
inches in overall length, with a blade not less than 8 inches wide, and a container with at least
one gallon of water, or a fully charged and operable 2.5-pound fire extinguisher. All
motorcycles, All-Terrain Vehicles (ATV), and side-by-side Utility Terrain Vehicles (UTV) must
be equipped with an approved and functional spark arrestor.
Persons exempted from this order:
Pursuant to 43 CFR 9212.3, the BLM may issue permits to persons to specifically authorize them to
engage in acts otherwise prohibited under this order. Pursuant to 43 CFR 9212.2(b)(3), the following
are exempt from this order. An exemption does not necessarily absolve an individual or organization
from liability or responsibility for any fire caused by an exempted activity.
• Any Federal, state, or local government employee acting in his or her official capacity.
• Any member of an organized rescue or fire fighting force during performance of an official duty.
Penalties for Violations:
Anyone who is found guilty of violating a fire prevention order may be subject to prosecution under any
applicable law or BLM regulation. A violation of this order may be classified as a Class A Misdemeanor
Offense under 43 USC 1733(a) FLPMA, 18 USC 3559, and 18 USC 3571 Sentence of Fine - Sentencing
Reform Act, Oct. 12, 1984. If the violation does not result in death, anyone who violates this order may
be fined not more than $100,000 and/or imprisoned for not more than 12 months or may be fined in
accordance with the applicable provisions of 18 USC 3571. Restitution for total fire suppression and
damage costs incurred will be borne by the responsible party.