In anticipation for an increasingly hot, dry summer, Gifford Pinchot National Forest fire managers are restricting campfires, smoking and similar activities within the forest.
“We are seeing dry conditions, earlier in the year, across the forest,” said Dirk Shupe, fire management staff officer, in a release. “We ask that everyone do their part to prevent human-caused wildfires by respecting all fire related restrictions.”
Creating and maintaining a fire and stove fire, including charcoal and pellet fires, is prohibited. Portable cooking stoves, lanterns and heating devices that use liquefied or bottled fuel are allowed, notably because they can be instantly turned off.
Smoking in undesignated areas, using internal or external combustion engines without a spark-arresting device, and possessing or using any kind of firework and pyrotechnic device is also prohibited.
Those who violate restrictions can be fined up to $5,000 and potentially imprisoned up to six months in jail.
Authorized for campfire
The following sites are authorized for campfire use:
- Cowlitz Valley Ranger District: Adams Fork Campground; Big Creek Campground; Blue Lake Creek Campground; Cat Creek Campground; Cispus Learning Center; Cody Horse Camp; Horseshoe Lake Campground; Keenes Horse Camp; Killen Creek Campground; North Fork Campground; Olallie Lake Campground; Soda Springs Campground; Takhlakh Lake Campground; Tower Rock Campground; Walupt Lake Campground; and Walupt Horse Camp.
- Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument and District: Kalama Horse Camp and Sunset Falls Campground.
- Mount Adams Ranger District: Atkisson Group Camp; Beaver Campground; Cold Springs Indian Camp; Cultus Creek Campground; Falls Creek Horse Camp; Forlorn Lakes Campground; Goose Lake Campground; Government Mineral Springs Campground (includes Guard Station); Lewis River Horse Camp; Lower Falls Campground; Moss Creek Campground; Oklahoma Campground; Paradise Creek Campground; Peterson Prairie Campground; Tillicum Campground; Trout Lake Creek Campground; and Twin Falls Campground.
Fire managers say fires must be fully extinguished, or cool to the touch, before campers leave a site. Metal fire rings, a shovel and buckets of water are essential tools to keep nearby.
For more fire information in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest, visit www.fs.usda.gov/main/giffordpinchot/fire.
