More fire restrictions go into effect today in Grand Teton National Park in an “emergency fire prevention” effort.

Officials cited extremely dry vegetation, persistent long-term drought, forecasts for continued hot and dry weather, and the high demand for local and national firefighting resources throughout Wyoming and the West as reasons for the additional prevention measures.

The new restrictions are:

– Lighting, building, maintaining, attending or using a fire is prohibited at all backcountry campsites on Jackson Lake, Leigh Lake, Bearpaw Lake, Trapper Lake and Spalding Bay, as well as at the Colter Bay swim beach and String Lake picnic area.

– Campfires are allowed only in established fire grates at Lizard Creek, Colter Bay, Signal Mountain, Jenny Lake, Gros Ventre and Flagg Ranch campgrounds and the Colter Bay RV Park.

– All campfires must be completely extinguished and cold to the touch before campers depart their sites. Unattended or abandoned campfires can quickly escalate into wildfires, fire officials say. Visitors should never leave a fire unattended and should prepare for the unexpected by having a water bucket and shovel on hand and ready to use.

Partial fire restrictions implemented July 3 are still in effect in the park and on Bridger-Teton National Forest lands. Those include:

– Lighting, building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire, barbecue or grill is allowed only at designated recreation sites such as established campgrounds or picnic areas, unless otherwise prohibited by the new restrictions in Grand Teton. Use of portable stoves and lanterns using gas, jellied petroleum or pressurized liquid fuel, or use of a fully enclosed sheepherder-type stove with a spark arrester screen is permitted.

– Smoking is allowed only in an enclosed vehicle, building (unless otherwise prohibited), developed recreation site, or while in an area at least 3 feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable materials (such as parking lots, developed campsites or locations surrounded by water).

– Operating a chain saw in national parks is prohibited. Operating a chain saw on national forests is permitted only when equipped with a spark arrester approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture or SAE that is properly installed and in effective working order. Operators must also carry a chemical pressurized fire extinguisher with a minimum rating of 2A and one round point shovel with an overall length of at least 36 inches.

– Discharge of fireworks and use of explosives requiring blasting caps are prohibited.

To report a fire or smoke in Gand Teton or Bridger-Teton, call 739-3630. For information, visit www.tetonfires.com.