Fire Restrictions
Inyo National Forest enters into fire restrictions typically in the early summer when fuel moistures start to drop and fire activity across the nation starts to increase. Should fire activity increase further and constrain firefighting resources, the forest may go into Stage II fire restrictions. To check if the forest is in Fire Restrictions, visit the Alerts page.
Stage 1 Fire Restrictions
This is the first stage of restrictions for having campfires. In short, dispersed campfires on the ground that burn wood or charcoal will no longer be permitted. However, campfires within designated, developed recreation sites (like official campgrounds) and portable stoves still be allowed with your California Campfire Permit.
The following acts are prohibited within Inyo National Forest:
- Building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire, campfire, or stove fire except in Forest Service-provided campfire ring or in a standing grill within a Developed Recreation Site listed in Exhibit A. 36 C.F.R. § 261.52(a).
- Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, within the Developed Recreation Sites listed in Exhibit A, or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable material. 36 C.F.R. § 261.52(d).
- Welding, or operating an acetylene or other torch with an open flame. 36 C.F.R. § 261.52(i).
Persons with a California Campfire Permit are not exempt from the prohibitions above, however they may use a portable campfire ring/pit, stove, or lantern outside of a Developed Recreation Site, at least five feet from any flammable materials, provided that the portable campfire ring/pit, stove, or lantern only burns gas, kerosene, jellied petroleum, or pressurized liquid fuel, and has a shut-off valve.
Stage II Fire Restrictions
The second stage of fire restrictions prohibits campfires of any kind that burn wood or charcoal, even in designated, developed recreation sites (like official campgrounds or picnic areas).
Stage II fire restrictions typically go into effect when fire activity throughout the state and the country increases along with the demand for firefighting resources, which may constrain firefighter response should there be a wildfire.
Fire Danger Levels
Fire Danger Levels can change daily in several places across the forest, because of the various range of microclimates on the forest, depending vegetation fuel moistures, elevation, and weather. You may notice that fire danger signs are located at our district ranger offices, fire stations, visitor centers, and along major highways to educate visitors.
It is possible for one area of the forest to be in a moderate to high fire danger level when the other end of the forest is in low. This is also determined independently from whether the forest is in fire restrictions or not.
Typically, Fire Prevention Technicians (patrols) are responsible for updating these signs.
Fire Danger Level sign, highway 168 Bishop
(Lisa Cox - USDA Forest Service, Inyo National Forest)For more information on a national scale, visit the National Fire Danger Rating System webpage.
Public wood cutting restrictions
Before you head out to cut wood with a chainsaw on the forest, it is important to call our Owens Valley Interagency Communications Center hotline at (760) 873-2555. Press 2 to obtain chainsaw restrictions for public firewood cutting that day.
For daily PAL levels, press 3. The forest is broken down in the north zone (Mono and Mammoth Ranger Districts) and south zone (White Mountain and Mount Whitney). Project Activity Level is a decision support tool designed to help fire and timber resource managers establish the level of industrial precaution for the following day. This tool utilizes outputs from the National Fire Danger Rating System (NFDRS). For more detailed information visit the Pacific Southwest Region's PAL webpage