Colorado River Indian Tribes


Send a message to feedback@critonline.com and you'll be added to our list.	Back to the News Fire restrictions likely to continue... June 3, 2005 Could last through much of the summer; goal is to curb man-made fires. CRIT has been forced to close significant portions of the reservation to the general public because of fire danger, and fire officials expect the closures to last throughout the summer. The closures include the following areas: The Mesquite Bosque at the Southern Reserve. The east side of Mohave Road, from the southern end of Kudu Farms to the southern boundary of the reservation. All undeveloped areas along the Colorado River, except for the Ahakhav Preserve. The closures will not affect access to or enjoyment of the Blue Water Resort & Casino. The closures include both the Arizona and California sides of the CRIT reservation. Individuals who have cattle in the closure areas and beekeepers with hives in these areas will be notified but allowed to keep their animals in place. Individuals with fishing and hunting permits for the closed areas will not be allowed in the areas, and will be cited and fined if caught trespassing. The only camping permits allowed will be for the 12-Mile Lake area of the reservation. CRIT law enforcement personnel have closed roads and posted signs at entrances to the affected areas. The CRIT reservation has already been victim to several wildfires this spring, as heavy winter rains have created a large amount of dry grass and brush. "April, for example, was a busy month." said CRIT Fire Chief Terrilynn Little. "We had 28 fires, and almost all of them were caused by humans." The closures are designed to prevent further wildfires from affecting homes, farms, Tribal lands and culturally important stands of mesquite trees. Members are asked to obey burning restrictions: The CRIT Fire Department is also asking for cooperation from members when it comes to burning brush or dead vegetation on their personal property. Burning is allowed, but only under tightly controlled circumstances. Burning is only allowed Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and only if weather permits. Additionally, members are required to call in to the Fire Department at (928) 662-4388 or 669-2328 any time they want to have a burn. Someone must be with the fire at all times and must have a running water source. There is absolutely no burning on weekends. The goal of the guidelines is to make sure a small controlled burn doesn't turn into a big wildfire that could damage homes, property, wild plants or wildlife. "People can be cleaning their yards and burning, and sometimes it just gets out of control," Little said.