Campfire, shooting rules tightened

Fire season restrictions arrive a month earlier than last year

The SanBernardino National Forest will implement new fire and shooting restrictions ahead of Memorial Day weekend, the agency announced Tuesday.

The restrictions ordered by U.S. Forest Service fire officials come as moisture levels of fuels in the forest’s lower elevations reached “critically dry” marks this week.

The restrictions come almost a month earlier than they were implemented in 2021, the agency said. The forest is in San Bernardino and Riverside counties.

The new restrictions, set to take place today, prohibit campfires and wood or charcoal barbecues at unhosted campgrounds and picnic areas, firearm discharges, smoking, welding or use of an open-flame torch, and use of an internal combustion engine off of paved, gravel or dirt roads and trails, the agency announced. The restrictions are set to last through the remainder of the year.

Some hosted campgrounds and picnic areas will allow campfires, barbecues and smoking.

Gas-powered stoves and fire rings with a fuel shutoff also will be allowed with a permit, the agency said.

The announcement comes after Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire officials over the weekend announced burning restrictions throughout the county, suspending all burning of landscape debris like branches and leaves. Campfires in the county are allowed for those who obtain a campfire permit and demonstrate fire safety to prevent embers from lighting other fires.

In the Angeles National Forest, similar restrictions related to burning and shooting were implemented May 3, slated to be in place through April 30,. A nearly identical order was made for the Cleveland National Forest in March, expected to remain at least through July 31, the Forest Service said.

Fire restrictions on forest lands may increase as the year progresses, the agency said.

The most current fire restrictions for the San Bernardino National Forest can be found online or by calling a ranger station.