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Abandoned campfires concern wildfire officials 7/16/2007 COEUR D’ALENE – Public lands managers are concerned that visitors along the Coeur d’Alene River are abandoning campfires after camping or picnicking. “Wildfire prevention officers (recently) found eight abandoned campfires in just the first five miles of their patrol,” said Sandra Groth, Coeur d’Alene Interagency Dispatch Center fire prevention specialist. “This is a very serious situation, especially as temperatures soar and the potential for wildfires increases.” Predictive Services in the Northern Rockies Coordination Center in Missoula is forecasting “high fire risk” days on July 13 and July 14 with temperatures above normal and relative humidity of 20 percent or less. According to Craig Glazier, Assistant Fire Management Officer for the Idaho Panhandle National Forests, “We’re about one month ahead of what we’d consider the beginning of our ‘normal’ fire season.” Glazier said the wildfire indicators including very low moisture content of live vegetation coupled with above normal temperatures and below normal precipitation puts Idaho Panhandle public lands at high risk for wildfires. “People who abandon campfires may receive more than a violation notice,” said Groth. “They may be liable for wildfire suppression costs.” Groth said that suppression costs can amount to hundreds of thousands of dollars or more. She offered these safety tips: (Place in cshaded box?) Keep campfires small, and build them away from overhanging branches, steep slopes and dry grass or logs. NEVER leave a campfire unattended. Make sure your fire is DEAD OUT. If it’s too hot to touch, it’s too hot to leave! Use water to drown your campfire. No water? Use dirt to smother and stir. Never burn aerosol cans or pressurized containers in your fire. Make sure all smoking materials (cigars, cigarettes, pipes) are extinguished. Park vehicles in areas cleared of dry vegetation. ALWAYS pack a bucket, shovel and fire extinguisher in your vehicle. To report a fire, call the nearest fire department or 9-1-1. For current fire information, please visit: www.fs.fed.us/ipnf/cdc/fireseason.html |
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