Fire restrictions issued for forest areas today

Officials with the San Bernardino National Forest increased fire restrictions today due to hot, dry weather and high fire activity in the area.

The following restrictions are in place:

- No wood or charcoal fires anywhere on the San Bernardino National Forest.

- Campfire permits are required for propane and gas stoves and lanterns used outside of developed recreation sites.

- Recreational shooting is limited to public shooting ranges operated under special use permit only, except for people engaged in legal hunting.

- An approved spark arrester is required for any internal combustion engine operated on designated forest routes. These include chain saws, generators, motorcycles, and off-highway vehicles.

- Smoking is limited to enclosed vehicles, buildings and developed recreation sites.

- Fireworks are always prohibited in the forest, along with tracer, armor-piercing, steel core and Teflon ammunition. Discharging a firearm at any exploding target is also prohibited, fire officials said.

U.S. Forest Service officials said they would be issuing citations to anyone who doesn't comply with the restrictions. Fines as high as $10,000 or as much as six months' jail time could be imposed.

- melissa.pinion-whitt@inlandnewspapers.com