Shasta-Trinity National Forest Enacts Fire Restrictions

Shasta-Trinity National Forest [photo from fs.usda.gov]

The Shasta-Trinity National Forest is enacting fire restrictions to protect natural resources and provide for public safety, effective today.

Drying vegetation and warm weather have created conditions more conducive to increased wildfire risk. These conditions prompted the Forest Service to put these restrictions into effect.

Fire restrictions in effect across the Shasta-Trinity National Forest include:

1. Building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire, campfire, or stove fire except in the areas identified below:

• Within a developed recreation site
• Within a designated fire safe site

2. Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable material.
3. Operating an internal combustion engine off National Forest System roads and trails, except boats on a water surface.
4. Welding, or operating an acetylene or other torch with an open flame.

Those exempt from the order include:

1. Any federal, state, or local officer, or member of an organized rescue or fire-fighting force in the performance of an official duty.
2. People with a valid California campfire permit are not exempt from the prohibitions listed above. However, those with a valid California campfire permit may use a portable campfire ring/pit, stove, or lantern in an area 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, with a shut-off valve.
3. People with a valid California campfire permit may also build, maintain, attend, or use a fire or campfire in the following areas:

• Within 10 feet of Shasta Lake, Trinity Lake, Iron Canyon Reservoir and at least 50 feet from any vegetation;
• Within the Yolla Bolla-Middle Eel Wilderness, Chanchelulla Wilderness, Castle Crags Wilderness, Mount Shasta Wilderness, and Trinity Alps Wilderness areas.

4. People with a valid 2025 Forest Products Removal Permit (fuel wood permit) from the Forest Service are not exempt from the prohibitions listed above but may operate an internal combustion engine off National Forest System roads and trails only to the extent necessary to cut fuel wood and provided the cutting of fuel wood is done in compliance with the terms of the permit.
5. People with a Forest Service non-special use written authorization to conduct non-recreational activities, such as harvesting timber or forest products, or grazing livestock, are exempt from Prohibition No. 3, provided the activity is done in compliance with the terms of the written authorization.
6. People may operate a generator containing an internal combustion engine if the operator is in attendance at all times during operation, the generator is used in an area at least five feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable material, and the generator is equipped with a spark-arresting device that is properly installed, maintained, and in effective working order.
7. Within the National Recreation Area, people with a valid recreation residence, marina, or resort special use permit from the Forest Service are not exempt from the prohibitions listed above but may operate an internal combustion engine within the designated permit area to maintain defensible space in compliance with the terms of such a permit.

A violation of these prohibitions is punishable by a fine of not more than $5,000 for an individual or $10,000 for an organization, or imprisonment for not more than six months, or both.

Please contact your nearest ranger station if you have questions. You may access the fire restriction order and exhibits on our website here: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r05/shasta-trinity/alerts/2025-shasta-trinity-national-forest-fire-restrictions