What are illegal campfires? Well, quite simply, they are campfires in defiance of posted fire restrictions. They can be found in dispersed camping areas, back yards, and even in developed campgrounds during times of Extreme Fire Danger. Fire Restrictions are NOT some kind of government harassment! They are legitimate rules implemented to protect people as well as our forest from the very real dangers of wildfires! All thoughtful, intelligent, and concerned out door recreationalists will NEVER light illegal campfires.
I never cease to be amazed by the number of people who continue to light illegal campfires during fire season! As it has been said, I guess you can't fix stupid! Those HIGH and EXTREME fire warnings are there for a reason! During HIGH fire levels campfires are only allowed in approved fire pits, usually only in designated campgrounds. Gas and propane stoves usually may still be used in dispersed camping areas. During EXTREME fire levels, NO CAMPFIRES or even gas or propane stove are allowed anywhere in restricted areas, not even in Forest Service campgrounds!
Last week, as a volunteer firefighter, I got called out at 1:45 am for a small forest fire a few miles from our home. Of all places it was right across the highway from the local US Forest Service Ranger Station! From what we could tell the fire was started by a camper who fled the scene as we arrived. I sure thought that the 2020 Holiday Farm Fire and the smoke blowing in from current local wildfires and very obvious hot dry winds would still be fresh enough in people's minds that they would be more careful and more willing to observe posted fire restrictions. After all, you have to drive through miles of burned up forest to get where we are! Unfortunately, that is not the case. There have even been a number of residents within the Holiday Farm Fire burn area who we have had to shut down for illegal backyard burning during HIGH fire restrictions. Sometimes they think that the burned over area is no longer in danger of burning. They could not be more wrong! For one thing, most of the trees killed by the fire are still standing as dead snags, just drying out and ready to burn. For another, the nice rains this past spring promoted a lot of growth of grass and shrubbery, all of which contributes to easily started and fast moving fires as it dries out in the summer heat, fires than will easily ignite the dead trees left over from the 2020 fire.
A while back we were called to a forest fire at one of the local private campgrounds. Fortunately we were able to contain the fire before it spread to more than a few acres. The fire was the result of deliberate and blatant violation of fire restrictions not ignorance or simple carelessness. The entire area was under EXTREME fire restrictions. It was posted multiple places along the highway the camper drove along. It was posted at the front desk and they were informed/reminded of it at check in. In spite of that they started a campfire. A member of the staff discovered it, reminded them of the restrictions, and put it out. As soon as he left they re-lit the campfire! Before long it had ignited the forest around them. What idiots! I believe the campground charged them a small fee for the violation, which was added to their credit card. Kind of hope the State goes after them for all the costs of fighting the fire too! Don't often see that but it does happen, especially when there is no question about the identity and negligence of the perpetrators, as it was in this case!
When you go camping, be sure to check the current fire restrictions where you are going. They are usually clearly posted along the highways and at fire stations and ranger stations along the way and at the entrances to campgrounds. Know what the limits are for each level of restriction and comply with all restrictions ALL THE TIME. Ignorance will not be an adequate defense if you light an illegal campfire.
There are more than enough forest fires ignited by lightning or downed power lines. The last thing anyone needs is for campers to ignore fire restrictions and cause even more fires! Carelessness or deliberate violations of fire restrictions are responsible for most <85%> wildfires. We are losing pristine camping areas fast enough without people setting them on fire!!!
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
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