Humbolt-Toiyabe
Carson Ranger District
1536 S. Carson Street
Carson City, NV 89701
www.fs.usda.gov/htnf
(775) 882-2766
1536 S. Carson Street
Carson City, NV 89701
www.fs.usda.gov/htnf
(775) 882-2766
News Release
Temporary Shooting Restriction Goes Into Effect on the Carson Ranger District
Carson City, Nevada (June 29, 2017) - Due to the risk of wildfires, the Carson Ranger District will be instituting a temporary shooting restriction. This restriction will go into effect on Friday, June 30, and remain in effect until Saturday, Sept. 30 or until conditions change.The Carson Ranger District encompasses over 400,000 acres on the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest in the states of Nevada (136,232 acres) and California (270,208 acres). The District includes 330,000 acres of urban interface area west of Reno-Sparks Metropolitan Area (pop. 425,417), Carson City (pop. 54,080), Minden (pop. 3,001), and Gardnerville (pop. 5,656) in Nevada and more remote rural areas in eastern California
The District experienced an extremely wet winter, leading to higher-than-normal grass growth. In addition, the current stretch of hot weather has increased the fire danger by drying the grasses and elevating the risk for human-caused fires.
“This temporary shooting restriction will prohibit people who are not hunting from discharging firearms on the Carson Ranger District,” said District Ranger Irene Davidson. “The main purpose of this order is to enhance public safety and protect natural resources while the District’s fire conditions are at a dangerous level as evidenced by the recent rash of shooting-related fires.”
In May and June, there have been 9 fires that has burned over 500 acres (7 fires in Washoe and one in Church Hill Counties in Nevada and one in Alpine County, California) that were human caused and currently under investigation where target shooting has become the focus as the cause: two on private lands; four on Nevada Bureau of Land Management lands; and three on Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest lands. The amount of shooting-related fires are above the average number for this time of year.
Violating the temporary shooting restriction is punishable by a fine up to $5,000 and/or six months in jail. In addition, anyone found responsible for starting a wildfire will be held civilly and criminally liable.
For additional information on the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, please visit www.fs.usda.gov/htnf or participate in the conversation at https://twitter.com/HumboldtToiyabe and https://www.facebook.com/HumboldtToiyabeNF/.
###