Reminder of Extreme Fire Danger
NO campfires permitted in dispersed campsites
July 17, 2007
Despite a wildfire that came very close to burning homes in Pinedale, and weeks of warnings of the extreme fire danger, some people are still building campfires out in the forest in dispersed campsites.
Sublette County, the BLM, the State, and the Bridger-Teton National Forest have all implemented fire restrictions to all public ground in Sublette County. These fire restrictions apply to building campfires, the use of barbecue grills, chainsaws and smoking.
Please be aware campfires are allowed ONLY in developed campgrounds (the ones with signs to them and names like “Fremont Lake Campground”, with numbered camping unit spots that have constructed campfire pits). A ring of rocks at the end of a two-track road on the shore of Fremont Lake (or anywhere else), is not considered a developed campground, so it is not ok to build a campfire at these kinds of dispersed camping spots. If you build a campfire anywhere besides in a developed campground while these fire restrictions are in effect, you may end up with a citation and a fine. If your illegal campfire escapes and causes a wildfire, you may also end up with the bill for the fire suppression costs.
NO OPEN FIRES EXCEPT IN DEVELOPED CAMPGROUNDS
The fire restrictions state that no open fires are allowed on the Bridger-Teton National Forest, except in designated Forest Service campgrounds. No campfires are allowed
in the dispersed areas throughout the National Forest, and no charcoal barbecue grills are permitted anywhere, even within designated campgrounds.
SMOKING
Additionally, smoking, except in an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation sites, or while stopped in an area at least 3 feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable materials is prohibited under the restrictions.
USE OF CHAINSAWS
To use a chainsaw on the Bridger-Teton while fire restrictions are in place requires that the operator has a fire extinguisher and a shovel with him, as well as having a spark arrester on the chainsaw itself.
BEWARE OF STARTING A FIRE WITH RUNNING PARKED VEHICLES
Finally, visitors to the Bridger-Teton are asked to be careful when parking their vehicles. The heat from the catalytic converters on the underside of vehicles has been known to ignite fires when the vehicle operator has driven over dry sage and grasses.
For more information on fire restrictions, call the Bridger-Teton National Forest at 307-739-5500.
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