473.065 - Activities within district which may be prohibited or restricted by State Forester Firewarden; public announcement and posting of prohibited or restricted activities; applicability; penalty.

473.065  Activities within district which may be prohibited or restricted by State Forester Firewarden; public announcement and posting of prohibited or restricted activities; applicability; penalty.

      1.  The State Forester Firewarden may prohibit or restrict the following activities within the boundaries of any fire protection district governed by this chapter when a danger to public safety or natural resources exists because of conditions which create a high risk of fire:

      (a) The operation in an area of timber, brush or grass of a motor vehicle or other item of equipment powered by a motor:

             (1) If the motor does not have a spark arrestor as required by law; or

             (2) If the operator does not have in his or her possession an ax, shovel and at least 1 gallon of water;

      (b) The operation in an area of timber, brush or grass of a motor vehicle off an existing paved, gravel or dirt road;

      (c) The smoking of tobacco or other substances in any place other than a motor vehicle or an area cleared of flammable vegetation;

      (d) Setting an open fire any place other than in a fireplace located in an established picnic area or campground; or

      (e) Other activities, if specified in regulations adopted by the Firewarden and the prohibition or restriction is related to reducing a high risk of fire,

Ê but these prohibitions and restrictions do not apply in established campgrounds or picnic areas, beaches or places of habitation or to travel on state or federal highways.

      2.  The State Forester Firewarden shall make a public announcement and post signs in any district where the State Forester Firewarden has prohibited or restricted any activities.

      3.  The State Forester Firewarden shall, upon finding that a danger to public safety or to natural resources no longer exists, make known to the public the end of any prohibition or restriction in that district.

      4.  The provisions of this section apply only to specified prohibitions or restrictions and do not confer upon the State Forester Firewarden the power to prohibit access to land.

      5.  Any person violating any of the provisions of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor.

      (Added to NRS by 1981, 483)