Laramie, Wyo. – Due to the extreme fire danger in southeast Wyoming, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department has issued an open fire ban on all Game and Fish Commission-owned and administered lands in Albany, Carbon, Goshen, Laramie, and Platte counties, effective immediately.
The fire ban applies to all 14 Wildlife Habitat Management Areas and 43 Public Access Areas in these five counties, including popular camping and fishing areas such as Laramie Peak WHMA and Table Mountain WHMA, as well as portions of Glendo Lake and Saratoga Lake managed by Game and Fish.
If you are planning a late-summer camping trip, make sure to check all fire restrictions for your destination.
Wildfires can dramatically alter the landscape and take years to recover from. They can have an impact on wildlife, agriculture, and recreation, as well as contribute to the spread of invasive annual grasses like cheatgrass.
Many Commission-owned properties serve as winter habitat for big game and other wildlife. A fire on one of these properties could have a significant impact on wildlife foraging during the winter. Game and Fish encourages everyone who uses public lands to be good stewards and to recreate responsibly.
Prohibited activities during the fire ban include:
Creating, maintaining, attending, or using a fire, campfire, charcoal grill, coal, or wood-burning stove.
Smoking is prohibited except in an enclosed vehicle or building, at a developed recreation site, or while parked in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or free of all flammable materials.
Lighting fireworks (always prohibited on Commission-owned land).
Important Notes:
Gas grills may be used but must be accompanied by proper means of fire suppression.
Welding, cutting torches, and smoking must all be done in areas free of flammable material with a radius of at least 10 feet and with proper fire suppression.
All internal and external combustion engines, including ATVs and motorcycles, must have approved spark arrestors.
The Wyoming State Forestry website provides information on current county fire restrictions.
Furthermore, recreationists should check with local U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, or other land management agency offices to learn about fire bans on their properties, as these may differ from county restrictions.
For more information on the fire ban, contact the Laramie Region Game and Fish Office at (307) 745-4046.
