NFS Warns of Careless Behavior in Forest

 

 

 

Careless Behavior Increases Fire Risk

 

Sonora, Calif., (Sept. 05, 2012)…The Forest Service today announced that fire danger potential is increasing at the higher elevations of the Stanislaus National Forest (NF). Three human caused fires have been ignited and allowed to escape recently in the Bear Lake area of the Emigrant Wilderness. Visitor carelessness is threatening the sensitive wilderness environments of the Stanislaus NF.

 

"We need the public's help here," said Stanislaus NF Supervisor Susan Skalski. "People need to be very careful and take appropriate precautions to ensure their campfire doesn't escape and is dead out when they leave their campsite. Forest visitors can also help by keeping a good lookout for smoke and report suspected wildfire with locations and descriptions by calling 911." She said.

 

The wilderness fires, and a number of fires at lower elevations, have fed on very dry fuels. The higher elevations of the Central Sierra Nevada received only about 50% of its typical snow pack this year causing fuels to dry out earlier than normal. September is traditionally the driest month of the year anyway, so the potential of more severe fires increases with the reduced fuel moisture.

 

Deer hunting season begins soon. While the weather is generally pretty nice in the high country this time of year, wilderness campers and hunters should ask themselves if a campfire is necessary at all. Backpacking stoves are affordable, quite efficient for cooking, easy to carry and do not produce sparks.

 

Although fire restrictions are in effect for the high and moderate hazard areas of the Forest the low hazard, high elevation, areas of the Forest have been spared the restriction so far. The restrictions on open sources of fire in the high and moderate hazard areas are actively enforced by Stanislaus Forest Law Enforcement Officers and Fire Prevention Specialists. Persons who knowingly violate these restrictions on open sources of fire may be cited by Forest Officers. Regardless of any fire restriction violations the responsible party of an escaped campfire could face paying the hefty costs of fire suppression operations.