Fires!

Statewide Fire Restriction Order

Effective July 12, 2014, the state has put into effect fire restrictions that until rescinded are the law in all private unincorporated and state lands in Rich County (and others).  These include:

1)      No open fires of any kind, except campfires built within facilities provided for them in campgrounds, picnic areas, or permanently improved places of habitation (some areas have even stronger restrictions, not state law, but those are locally enforced, as in some HOA’s),

2)      No smoking except in a closed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site, or while stopped in an area at least 3 feet in diameter that is barren or cleared to mineral soil,

3)      No fireworks, tracer ammunition, or other pyrotechnic devices,

4)      No cutting, welding, or grinding metal in areas of dry vegetation,

State and Federal Fire Officers and firefighting forces in the performance of official duties are excluded, as are persons with a specific permit specifically authorizing the prohibited act at a specific location.

Violation of these restrictions is a class B misdemeanor.

These restrictions do not apply to lands In incorporated areas.