Not only no fireworks allowed for Independence Day, but campfires as well are either disallowed completely or are severely restricted until further notice on federally owned public lands in Sacramento and El Dorado counties.

Tobacco smoking is tightly restricted on the Eldorado National Forest.

Campfires are banned on U.S. Bureau of Land Management lands. Campfires are restricted to stoves and fire rings in designated recreation sites on the Eldorado National Forest.

"We would like to emphasize, with the July 4 holiday approaching, that all fireworks are prohibited," said Brian Mulhollen, BLM fuels management specialist. "These restrictions also prohibit all open fires on public lands, because of extremely dry conditions."

The following restrictions apply on BLM lands, for example at Cronan Ranch and Magnolia Ranch near Pilot Hill:

*No fireworks.

*No operating internal combustion engines, except on maintained roads.

*No open fires, campfires or open fire stoves, except lanterns and portable stoves using gas, jellied petroleum or pressurized liquid fuel.

*No welding or use of any torch with an open flame, except by special permit.

*No use of explosives, except by special permit.

*No firing tracers or incendiary devices capable of starting a fire.

Violations are punishable by fines up to $1,000 and-or up to one year in jail. For additional information, contact BLM's Folsom Field Office at 985-4474.

On the Eldorado National Forest, except for some allowable campfire-making, similar restrictions to the BLM's apply, and tobacco smoking is prohibited except inside an enclosed vehicle or building within

designated exempt sites or in areas barren of flammable material for at least a three-foot diameter.

“The current drying trend is heading us in the direction we went in 2001 and 2004, when we had fires that exceeded 10,000 acres in size," said Bob Patton, management officer for the Eldorado National Forest.

The Telegraph’s Roger Phelps can be reached at rogerp@goldcountrymedia.com, or post a comment at folsomtelegraph.com