The U.S. Forest Service is denying the North Lake Tahoe Bonanza’s request for the name of a man cited Tuesday morning for building a campfire.

The man was issued a $375 citation for the campfire near Jupiter Drive on Forest Service land. Local hikers reported the fire to the North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District.

The district dispatched a full wildland response, complete with engines and a 20-member hand crew. The small fire was doused and a USFS law enforcement agent was dispatched to Incline to write the citation.

The Bonanza asked for the man’s name and was denied.

“We can’t confirm the name at this point,” said USFS Public Affairs officer Cheva Heck. “It has been a regional policy not to identify people who are cited by the Forest Service because the man has made no admission of guilt.”

After the denial, the Bonanza filed a Federal Freedom of Information Act request for a copy of the citation.

The USFS complied with the request but redacted the man’s name, identifying him as a Californian.

Heck said the USFS redacted the man’s name in accordance with section 7(c) of the Federal FOIA. The section reads that a federal agency can withhold a public document if it “could reasonably be expected to constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy.”

Barry Smith, executive director of the Nevada Press Association researched section 7(c) and said he could find no reason for the USFS to withhold the name. He cited press releases filed by U.S. Attorney offices naming people cited for building fires.

Smith said the NPA is considering taking action on behalf of the Bonanza.