“Leaving a campfire burning on the National Forest is a punishable offense,” said Forest Supervisor Chad Hudson. Violators could face a fine and/or prison, and anyone responsible for starting a wildfire may be held responsible for the cost of putting it out. “A cold morning doesn’t mean fires can’t spread quickly,” said Hudson. Visitors to the Bridger-Teton are reminded to never walk away from a smoldering campfire. The best way to make sure your fire is completely out and cold to the touch is to mix water, earth, and embers and stir them until they're cool enough to hold in your bare hand. Anyone lighting a campfire on the Forest should have a bucket of water and a shovel nearby.
Although an area may appear green, the danger for fire still exists. The reports of unattended campfires have Fire Management Officer James Turner reiterating a fire safety message for all Forest users. The number one culprit of human-caused fires that require the attention of fire crews is escaped campfires which are not fully extinguished. This summer we have found 66 abandoned campfires on the Forest. “Even though we have had recent moisture across much of the Forest, we still need to be careful with campfires and warming fires,” said Turner. He reminds visitors and particularly campers and hunters to the Bridger-Teton to build their campfires in a safe spot, and keep them small. Attention throughout the fall should also be given to identifying other sources that could ignite a wildfire, such as discarded cigarettes or hot mufflers on vehicles parked in tall, dry grass.
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Check out our online trail guides:
- Glacier National Park: HikinginGlacier.com
- Grand Teton National Park: TetonHikingTrails.com
- Rocky Mountain National Park: RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
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