WASHOE COUNTY IMPLEMENTS EMERGENCY FIRE PREVENTION MEASURES
RENO, Nevada. June 27, 2007. In response to the extremely high fire danger this season, Washoe County Manager Katy Singlaub has requested all 3,000-plus county employees to implement the following procedures as soon as possible.
1) All future Public Works Department and Water Resources Department construction contracts with outside vendors must include an approved fire safety plan.
2) A fire safety handout will be included in all building permit application materials through the County’s Permit Plus Zone, and a discussion of fire safety will occur with all permit applicants.
3) A fire safety training course will be provided to all County employee field personnel (this was done last year too).
4) All field vehicles are to be equipped with fire safety equipment, including a shovel, water, a hand-pump sprayer or other means of spraying water, and a fire extinguisher.
Additionally, the County’s Sierra Forest Protection District, which serves the communities of West Washoe County, has enacted the following fire restrictions for their service territory. A Special Order approved by the State’s Forester Firewarden authorizes these restrictions.
1) No building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire or stove fire, except a portable stove using gas, jellied petroleum or pressurized liquid fuel, outside an established fireplace in a picnic area or campground or places of habitation.
2) No smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building or in an area that is barren or cleared of all flammable vegetation.
3) No operating vehicles or other motorized equipment off of existing paved, gravel or dirt roads.
4) No operating vehicles or other motorized equipment in wildland areas without an axe, shovel and at least one gallon of water.
5) No setting off fireworks.
6) No operating a welding torch or any other device that may cause a fire.
7) The only exemption to the above is for a person(s) with a valid permit specifically authorizing the otherwise prohibited act or omission.
For additional information about the Sierra Fire Protection District, visit their website at www.washoecounty.us/sierrafire <http://www.washoecounty.us/sierrafire> or call Chief Michael Greene at (775) 849-1108.