Abandoned campfires already becoming an issue
Significant increase in abandoned campfires causes concern for fire officials
JACKSON HOLE, Wyo. — A spate of abandoned campfires discovered on the Bridger-Teton National Forest is causing concern, especially in the warmer, drier weather that the forest is already experiencing this month.
“People just aren’t thinking of fire safety at this time of year. It’s like folks assume because it’s spring they don’t need to worry about putting out their campfires,” said BTNF public affairs officer Mary Cernicek. “It is early but it only takes a couple of days of warm dry weather to dry things out.”
As of June 2, some 21 abandoned campfires—mostly on Forest Service land have been found. Comparatively, in 2020, there were 7 abandoned fires by the same date that year, and in 2019, there were 3.
Of the abandoned campfires discovered, some have been left smoldering and too hot to touch, while others had escaped their fire rings. Fire personnel are routinely dispatched to extinguish reported campfires while others are discovered by patrollers.
“Individuals found responsible could be cited with violation notices and possibly fined,” Cernicek said. Anyone found responsible for starting a fire that escapes that results in a wildfire may be held responsible for the cost of putting that fire out. “All too often people don’t intend to start wildfires, yet they leave campfires unattended or don’t completely put them out. These campfires have the potential to become disastrous.”
Increased incidents of unattended campfires have fire managers reiterating a fire safety message for all forest users. Although an area may appear green, the danger for fire still exists.
“Even though it looks green, drought conditions have left dead materials and trees susceptible to fire, and we still need to be careful with campfires on the forest” Cernicek said. “We just want to remind visitors to the Bridger-Teton to build their campfires in a safe spot, not to leave them unattended, and to extinguish them completely before leaving the area.”
Always keep a bucket of water and a shovel nearby. When putting a campfire out, drown it with water, stir with a shovel, and never leave a fire until it is cold to the touch.
To report an abandoned campfire or wildfire call Teton Interagency Dispatch at 307-739-3630 or 911.
