South Lake Tahoe, Calif. –The U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit will lift fire restrictions on National Forest System lands beginning tomorrow, Tuesday, September 24, 2013.  “The arrival of cooler, wetter weather brings safer conditions and has allowed us to lift restrictions on Forest Service managed lands,” said Forest Service fire chief Kit Bailey.  “Even though restrictions will be lifted, we still need hikers and campers to use caution with campfires, stoves, barbecue grills and cigarette smoking.”

While fire restrictions imposed in the summer will be lifted, the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit adopted a set of fire regulations in 2004 that restrict where campfires are allowed year-round.  Most of the Lake Tahoe backcountry is “stove only” with a valid campfire permit.  This regulation applies within the Desolation Wilderness, where a stove only regulation has been in place for more than 10 years.

For more information about backcountry fire regulations and how to obtain a campfire permit, call the Forest Supervisor’s office in South Lake Tahoe at 530-543-2694.  To learn more about residential burning, contact CAL FIRE or your local fire department or fire protection district.