Oregon Public Broadcasting

If you're planning on lighting off fireworks this 4th of July, don't do it on public land. That's the message from the Bureau of Land Management.

BLM rangers will be patrolling public lands and will be on the look out for potential violators. As David Nogueras reports, the penalties can be costly. 

It's illegal to ignite or operate fireworks on BLM managed lands.  Violators can be fined up to $1,000 and receive a prison term up to one year.

The BLM's main concern is fire.

Maria Thi Mai says sparks from fireworks can get picked up by wind currents and carried long distances.

Maria Thi Mai: "And so what we want to do is keep our forests alive and safe from fire, and people safe from fire."

With fire season looming, the BLM is unsure how severe this season will be. Forecasters are predicting a drier summer pattern.

Thi Mai says the upside of that could be fewer lighting strikes.

The downside of Oregon's wet spring is more grasses and shrubs to fuel a wildfire.