Fireworks are not welcome at lake

Beth Slovic

Friday, July 2, 2004 | 9:39 a.m.

While Las Vegans enjoy fireworks shows throughout the valley, those who head out to Lake Mead to celebrate will have to leave the sparklers behind.

Fireworks are banned in the Lake Mead National Recreational Area, where rangers are bracing for one of the busiest weekends of the year.

Last year 136,877 visitors traipsed through the recreation area over the July Fourth weekend, which traditionally is the second busiest of the year, behind only Memorial Day.

Two wildland fires were sparked, damaging natural resources and private property, including a tent and a houseboat.

With that in mind and drought conditions worsening, rangers, firefighters and water safety officials urged visitors Thursday to take precautions while enjoying the park's 1.4 million acres of natural resources.

Common sense should prevail in all situations on the land and on the water at the park. If it looks like you or someone else might get hurt, do not take a risk, they said.

This year, to prevent more fires from erupting, park officials have banned all fires not within designated camping and picnic areas. That means for the time being visitors can no longer set up campfires along the shoreline.

"We just can't take the chance," said Roxanne Dey, a spokeswoman for the park. Drought has turned grasses around the edge of the lake and throughout the park into kindling.

Fines for causing a fire where campfires and charcoal grills are prohibited can be as high as $10,000. In some cases park official may also opt to levy charges for the cost of putting out the fire.

Propane stoves, however, are allowed outside designated areas.

Fireworks are never permissible on Park Service land. And visitors who are caught with them will have them confiscated by rangers. Fines for fireworks, from sparklers to bottle rockets, can be as high as $100, Dey said.

"Leave your fireworks at home," said Kevin Oliver, a fire management specialist with the park.

Those who smoke should do so only on the water or on pavement, Oliver said. Cigarettes have been known to spark fires, he said.

Boaters should always wear life jackets and, while walking to and from the water, shoes, said Nancy Bernard, a volunteer program manager who was once a water education specialist.

"Right now the lake levels are lower and people need to be more cautious," Bernard said. "Look at the different colors of the water," Bernard advised. Brown water indicates land is close. Reef may show through the surface as greenish-yellow.

Law enforcement officials will be on the water this weekend, watching out for reckless boaters.

"If a ranger pulls over a boater, he has cause to check to make sure the boater has all his safety gear on board and to do a sobriety check," Bernard said. "The fines can keep getting higher and higher," if the boater has in fact committed additional offenses, she said.

Everyone should wear sunscreen and drink plenty of water, officials said. Dehydration is one common cause of injury in the park, officials said.

Dogs on park land should remain on leashes at all times, they said.

And everyone should pack a healthy dose of patience, Bernard said.

"Patience is one thing people need to bring out here with them," she said.