Fire DangerToo Great For Campfire Fun — Dave’s Diary

Escaped campfires are the leading source of human-caused wild fires on the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest and usually occur when campers fail to completely extinguish their campfire before leaving campsites.That being the case and with record setting heat in the forecast, a new Forest Order was issued prohibiting all campfires on National Forest System Lands within Kittitas and Yakima Counties on the Naches Ranger District -- except as allowed in the Goat Rocks, Norse Peak and William O. Douglas Wilderness Areas.

Effective Wednesday, July 16th, building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire, or stove fire, including a fire made from briquettes, will be prohibited with certain exceptions.

Human caused fires are something that can be controlled through preventative actions such as:

• Completely extinguishing campfires
• Obeying fire restrictions
• Not driving through dry grassy areas where hot car exhaust systems can ignite the grass
• Being careful with all ignition sources including cigarettes, candles or anything with a flame or spark.

Persons using or maintaining pressurized liquid gas stoves or an enclosed solid fuel fire using a wick are also exempt from this order.

Please visit or call the appropriate ranger station to obtain information on these sites.