Stage I Fire Restrictions
8/6/2025
News Release
CONTACT:
(IDL)- 208-525-7167
(BLM)- 208-524-7613
(USDA FS)- 208-557-5766
Stage 1 Fire Restrictions ordered for eastern Idaho
IDAHO FALLS, Idaho—August 06, 2025
As the threat of wildfire danger continues to increase, state and federal land management agencies will implement Stage 1 Fire Restrictions on lands within eastern Idaho effective August 07, 2025, at 12:01 a.m. Fire restrictions are intended to decrease the chance of any preventable fires in the designated areas.
Stage 1 fire restrictions will be in place on federal, state and private forest and rangelands, roads, and trails, situated in Bannock, Bear Lake, Bingham, Bonneville, Butte, Caribou, Clark, Franklin, Fremont, Jefferson, Madison, Power, Oneida, and Teton counties.
These restrictions are being implemented by agencies managing or providing wildland fire protection, which include the Caribou-Targhee National Forest, Bureau of Land Management Idaho Falls District, Fort Hall Agency BIA, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Reclamation, and the Idaho Department of Lands (IDL). The following Zones are going into restrictions:
Big Desert Zone, Caribou Zone, Centennial Zone
Under the Stage 1 Fire Restrictions, the following acts are prohibited on state and federally managed or protected lands, roads, and trails:
· Building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire, campfire or stove fire except within a designated recreation site and in a permanent concrete or metal fire ring, or on private land, and only within an owner-provided structure.
· Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle, building, or designated recreation site, or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable materials.
The following are exemptions to the Stage 1 Fire Restrictions:
· Persons with a written permit that specifically authorizes the otherwise prohibited act.
· Persons using fire fueled solely by liquid petroleum or liquid petroleum gas (LPG) fuels. Such devices, including propane campfires, may be used only in an area cleared of flammable material.
· Persons conducting activities in those designated areas where the activity is specifically authorized by written posted notice.
· Any federal, state or local officer or member of an organized rescue or firefighting force in the performance of an official duty.
· All land within a city boundary is exempted.
· Other exemptions unique to each agency.
With the fire season well underway, these restrictions are intended to keep visitors to public lands safe as well as prevent dangerous and damaging wildfires. If you are planning a visit to public lands in these areas, please check with the Sawtooth Ranger District offices https:// www.fs.usda.gov/r04/caribou-targhee, the BLM Idaho Falls District BLM https://www.blm.gov/idaho or the Idaho Department of Lands Fire Restrictions Finder.
General Fire Restrictions FAQs
Summary | Eastern Idaho will go into STAGE 1 FIRE Restrictions beginning August 7, 2025, at midnight.
Stage 1 Restrictions:
- Building, maintaining, attending to, or using a fire, campfire, charcoal grill or stove fire, except within a designated recreation site, and only within a fire structure provided by the administrative agency.
- Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle, building or designated recreation site, or while stopped in an area at least 3 feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable materials.
Idaho Fire Restrictions Website: www.idl.idaho.gov/fire-management/fire-restrictions-finder/
Frequently Asked Questions
Are public lands closed due to the fire restrictions?
No. Your public lands remain open for use. However, in the event of a fire, there may be temporary road or area closures associated with the incident in order to provide for public and firefighter safety.
CAMPFIRES
Under Stage I fire restrictions where can I have a campfire?
Campfires are allowed in developed recreation sites with owner provided fire structures. Per the Forest Service a permanent metal or concrete structure installed, maintained and approved by the Forest service in the Forest Service developed recreation site listed in exhibit A is allowed and considered an owner provided structure.
What is a developed recreation site?
An area that has been improved or developed for recreation. A developed recreation site is signed as a privately owned commercial campground, tribal, or agency owned campground or picnic area.
I have a privately owned summer home on land leased to me by a federal agency, am I restricted from having a campfire at my summer home?
Yes, your summer home lease probably is included in the restriction because your leased lot is not a designated recreation area under the definition listed above. It is not signed as a commercial campground or picnic area and the owner of the land (federal) in all likelihood did not provide your fire structure.
I have a privately owned cabin on private land. Can I have a campfire on my own land?
If you live within a city limit or incorporated area, you should follow local direction. If your privately owned land is outside of a city limit or incorporated area you may have a campfire on your own land only within an owner-provided fire structure (see definitions). Otherwise, you are restricted from having a campfire under state statutes (Idaho Code, Title 38, Sections 115 and 116).
I am an outfitter/guide/contractor who has a permit or contract to conduct business on federal, state and/or tribal lands. Am I exempt from these restrictions?
No. Your activities are restricted the same as the general public unless you have a written permit signed by the appropriate agency official granting a specific exemption from the prohibited activity.
STOVE FIRES
Under Stage I Fire Restrictions, are stoves allowed and if so what kind?
Any stove fueled solely by liquid petroleum (i.e. gas, white gas fuel etc.) or liquid petroleum gas (LPG) (i.e. propane, etc.) fuel is OK under both Stage I and Stage II. Stoves fueled by wood that are not being used in a building or vehicle are prohibited under both Stage I and Stage II.
Why are portable charcoal grills restricted?
Charcoal is OK to use under Stage I Fire Restrictions in developed recreation sites in owner provided fire structures. This is because the owner provided structure is generally permanently mounted in a fixed position and cannot be easily tipped over. Charcoal grills can easily cause wildfires because they tend to hold heat for a relatively long period of time and users usually discard the ashes. Portable charcoal grills can also easily be tipped over and can produce blowing embers which can easily ignite a wildfire during extreme fire conditions.
Why are LPG and liquid fueled stoves OK?
Using liquid or gas fuel helps reduce the likelihood that individuals might discard or leave ashes or hot charcoal briquettes before they are completely extinguished. These types of stoves also do not produce blowing embers further reducing the wildfire potential.
Can I use my Dutch oven?
Dutch Ovens in and of themselves are not restricted. They can be used anywhere at any time utilizing stoves fueled by liquid petroleum or liquid petroleum gas. During Stage I fire restrictions they may be used with wood or charcoal as a heat source in developed recreation sites in owner provided fire structures only.
MOTORIZED VEHICLES
Are there any restrictions on motorized vehicles?
Under Stage I fire restrictions, motorized vehicle use is not restricted due to wildfire issues. Visitors are reminded, however, to consult agency travel plan maps because there are identified roads and trails that are closed to motorized travel either seasonally or year-round. Some agencies also may have restrictions which require users to stay on designated roads and trails year-round regardless of whether there is fire restriction in place or not.
Are there any restrictions on the use of chainsaws or generators?
Under Stage I fire restrictions there are no restrictions on the use of chainsaws or generators which are related to wildfire issues. However, users are reminded that personal use and/or commercial use firewood gathering permits are still required and many federal and state land agencies have identified designated areas where these activities are allowed and other areas where wood gathering is prohibited. Generators are not restricted.
SMOKING
What are the restrictions on smoking?
Under Stage I fire restrictions, smoking is not allowed except within an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site, or while stopped in an area at least 3 feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable materials.
FIREWORKS
Where are fireworks allowed?
Fireworks are always illegal on all federal and state lands. Even possession of fireworks is illegal on these lands. Prior to igniting fireworks on privately owned lands, consult your local fire department since this activity may be illegal under city and/or county ordinances.
---General Background Questions---
Q; When will the Forest go into fire restrictions?
Restrictions are implemented only after reasonable prevention measures have been taken. These measures may include increased signing, public contacts, media campaigns, etc. Fire restrictions are normally considered only when very high or extreme fire danger is predicted to persist. Other considerations are the level of human-caused fire occurrences being experienced, potential high-risk occasions (4th of July, hunting season etc.), and large fire activity occurring on the forest.
Q: Will you close the forest due to fire danger?
Emergency closures have an extreme impact on the public and the forest wouldn’t consider closing except under the most severe conditions. A forest closure cannot be justified by fire danger alone and would be driven by high potential for human-caused fires, severe shortages of resources, numerous large fires.
Q: How do you determine if it’s time for fire restrictions?
When conditions are identified as critical, fire management personnel within the proposed fire restriction area will confer, review conditions, recommend that a fire restriction is necessary for their area of responsibility, and include a start date.
Before the respective agency(s) applies a restriction, they will coordinate with the other agencies and public information officer responsible for the media notification in that fire restriction area in developing a schedule and plan for public notification
Q: What criteria is used to measure if fire restrictions are needed?
We look at many things including: (only fire savvy should use this TP - ) If at least 3 of the following conditions are met the forest considers stage 1 restrictions.
ð 1,000 HOUR FUEL MOISTURE CONTENT IS 10 PERCENTILE OR LESS
ð THREE-DAY MEAN ENERGY RELEASE COMPONENT (ERC) IS AT 90th PERCENTILE OR ABOVE
ð LIVE FUEL MOISTURE CONTENT IS 75% OR LESS
ð FIRE DANGE RATING ADJECTIVE CLASS IS VERY HIGH OR EXTREME
ð WILDLAND FIRES ARE IMPACTING AVAILABLE SUPPRESSION RESOURCES MAKING INITIAL ATTACK DIFFICULT
ð AREA IS RECEIVING HUMAN-CAUSED FIRE STARTS AND THE RISK IS PREDICTED TO INCERASE FROM HUMAN ACTIVITY
ð ADVERSE FIRE WEATHER IS PREDICTED TO CONTINUE
ð ALL OTHER PREFENTION MEAURES ARE NOT PROVING SUCCESSFUL
Q: Can I have any way to cook my food during stage 1 fire restrictions?
Building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire, Bar-B-Que or charcoal grill except in designated recreation sites is not allowed in stage 1 fire restrictions . However, the use of portable stoves and lanterns using gas, jellied petroleum, pressurized liquid fuel is permitted in dispersed sites on the forest. 36CFR 261.52(a)
Q: Will I get a ticket if I pull over and smoke on the forest during stage 1 fire restrictions?
Smoking, except in an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation sites, or while stopped in an area at least 3 feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable materials is not allowed. If you pulled over on the side of a forest road that was full of vegetation on the sides, you could be issued a violation notice. 36CFR261.52(d)
Q: I have a firewood permit. Can I still collect firewood during stage 1 fire restrictions?
Yes, but you must be operating a chainsaw with a USDA or SAE approved spark arrester properly installed and in effective working order.
Q: Can I target shoot during stage 1 fire restrictions?
Yes. However, using an explosive, which is any chemical compound, mixture or device that has the primary or common purpose of functioning by explosion, including exploding targets is prohibited.
Q: What happens if I violate Stage 1 fire restrictions?
Violating stage 1 fire restrictions is punishable by a fine of not more than $5000 for individuals, $10,000 for organizations and/or imprisonment for not more than six months.
Q: Where can I have a campfire during stage 1 fire restrictions?
Fires are not allowed on public lands except in pre-designated campgrounds or picnic areas. Campers may see a rock ring in a dispersed campsite along the road and think it is developed or designated and they can have a fire. However, we have a specific list of locations on Forest where fires and charcoal are allowed. If a campsite is not on the list, fires are not allowed. Period. A list of designated sites is posted on the forest website along with specific restriction information. Basically, if you are not in a developed pay campground, you cannot have a campfire.
STAGE 1 (Partial ) FIRE RESTRICITIONS TALKING POINTS
Fire Restrictions come in different stages and become more prohibitive with each stage. Most forests begin by implementing a Stage I Restriction and if conditions worsen, Stage II is implemented. Stage III is when conditions worsen further, and a forest closure is implemented-- which means the public is not allowed to enter the boundaries of the national forest due to the danger.
The first stage occurs when there is an increasing fire danger and/or a increasing preparedness level, and the risks of keeping the forest open to all activities begins to be outweighed by the risks inherent in doing so.
Stage I imposes relatively minor restrictions aimed at preventing the start of wildfires based on human activities that are known to be high risk, specifically smoking and campfires.
Stage I Restrictions
What is Prohibited:
No igniting, building, maintaining, or using a fire, including charcoal and briquettes except in a fire structure that is provided by the Forest Service developed recreation sites (not including dispersed camping areas). Holders of Forest Service Special Use Authorizations are exempt from this restriction, provided such fires are within a fire structure and they are within their permitted area.
No smoking except in an enclosed vehicle or building, or in developed recreation sites, or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable material.
What is Allowed:
Petroleum-fueled stoves or grills.
A stove fire in a designated area.
Shooting firearms IS allowed. Just make sure to follow normal federal rules: No shooting within a 150 yards of a campsite, developed recreation site or occupied area, residence or building. No shooting across a road, trail or body of water, or in any manner or place whereby any person property is exposed to injury or damage as a result of such discharge. No shooting in a cave.
Chainsaw use IS allowed. However, please use caution and keep from creating sparks by not cutting directly on the ground where the chain can contact rocks while rotating.