USFS warns of increase in unattended campfire incidents – by Jan Wondra

Chaffee Rec Rangers stoke a warm campfire left at an AHRA campground in mid-June. Photo courtesy of Envision Chaffee County.

The United States Forest Service (USFS) is urging the public to prioritize campfire safety after a large number of abandoned campfires were discovered on USFS property in Colorado.

As of July 12, 139 abandoned or unattended campfires have been reported to the Pueblo Interagency Dispatch Center. This dangerous trend in outdoor recreation is one of the leading causes of catastrophic wildfires. The 2024 Interlaken Fire in Leadville, Colorado, started by an abandoned campfire, burned more than 700 acres of the Interlaken Historic District.

With national fire safety levels being raised and summer still to come, the Pike-San Isabel National Forests & Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands are urging the public to prioritize proper campfire safety precautions when recreating in national forests and grasslands.

A key activity for the Chaffee Rec Adopters this summer was addressing campfire safety at the region’s busiest dispersed campgrounds.

“Since the Interlaken fire, several of these Adopters have reported finding smoldering, abandoned campfires,” said Kim Marquis, Chaffee Rec Adoptes Program Outreach Coordinator. “They have been bringing in water and putting out the fires.”

So far this summer camping season, Chaffee Rec Adopters have tackled 300 campsites during about a dozen volunteer events held at various locations since April. The work includes reducing the size of rock campfire rings, clearing debris and trash, and removing unsuitable rings.

Most recently, on July 17, they removed 17 campfire rings and cleaned up trash and ash along CR 304 as part of a cleanup with the Buena Vista Singletrack Coalition. In addition to attending events, Adopters can sign up to manage a favorite area and monitor these areas themselves.

Wanted, Extinguished campfires. Photo by Jan Wondra

USFS Campfire Guidelines

This year, Smokey Bear officially celebrates his 80th birthday and his slogan remains true. “Only YOU can prevent forest fires.”

Forest fire safety measures begin before a camper leaves.

Always check for shutoffs and fire-related restrictions before leaving the home. Violating these rules is subject to a fine of up to $5,000 or 6 months in jail, or both.

If campfires are allowed, clear vegetation from your campfire site and use an existing campfire ring if possible. Before lighting a campfire, make sure you have the proper tools to extinguish it.

Come prepared to the forest. Bring a bucket, plenty of extra water and a shovel to put out the campfire and stoke it until it is completely out.

To completely extinguish your campfire, douse it with water, stir it with your shovel, douse it again, and feel it with the back of your hand to see if it is still warm. Repeat this process until there is no heat left. If it is still warm, do not leave it.

Regulations prohibit abandoning a campfire. Violators of these regulations risk a fine and/or imprisonment. If the abandoned campfire causes a forest fire, violators may also be held responsible for the cost of fighting the fire.

Chaffee Rec Adopters

The Chaffee Recreation Rangers program adds critical staff during peak summer camping season. This year, the rangers are adding eight personnel to those from the USFS, the Burua of Land Management (BLM) and the Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area (AHRA) who patrol Chaffee County’s wilderness areas. They’ll patrol for abandoned campfires, provide one-on-one education to visitors and issue citations for illegal behavior, such as leaving a campfire unattended.

“Through these two programs and the support of the Chaffee Common Ground Fund, we are improving monitoring capacity, but the number of unattended campfires reported here by the agency is concerning because it is so high,” Marquis said.

Knowing the dangers of wildfires and spreading the message that carelessness endangers us all is everyone’s responsibility, and recreationists must hold themselves accountable to recreate responsibly. Remember, even though you may be a visitor to this beautiful province, your reckless behavior around campfires endangers those who live here all the time. This is home.

If you come across an abandoned campfire, there are a few steps you can take to ensure that it is properly reported and contained. If possible, extinguish the abandoned campfire. If you do not have the proper equipment to do so, you can call your county’s local non-emergency number or your local national forest or grasslands district office to report it.

“Know before you go. Check for red flag warnings and fire restrictions before considering a campfire,” says PSICC Fire Prevention Specialist Vidalia Vigil. “Be aware of campfires. Make sure the fire area is not near your tent, flammables, or other items. Always extinguish a fire completely before you leave, even if you plan to return, and make sure your fire is out before you go to bed.”

For more information on fire safety and fire restrictions, visit http://REcreators need to hold themselves accountable.https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/psicc/fire.