Stanislaus National Forest Credit: USDA
July 3, 2019 - SONORA, California – Planning to celebrate Independence Day with a visit to the Stanislaus National Forest? Forest managers remind visitors that fireworks are illegal in all national forests, so please leave them at home!
Activities such as camping, backpacking, and picnicking in the great outdoors are perfect for holiday enjoyment, but they all have something else in common: they often include a campfire.
We remind visitors to be responsible when enjoying a campfire. Campfires offer comfort and warmth on cool evenings, or allow kids to roast marshmallows, but there is great responsibility in having a campfire.
Be sure to check whether you need a campfire permit. Permits are required for campfires, charcoal fires, or portable gas stoves outside of a designated recreation area when there are no fire restrictions in place. These permits are free and are available at all Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, or CAL-Fire offices, or you may get one online at www.preventwildfireca.org.
When you obtain a campfire permit you agree to:
- Come Prepared – bring your campfire permit, your shovel, and a bucket for water. Check with forest staff to see if there are fire restrictions in place.
- Clear all flammable material away from the fire at least five feet in all directions to prevent the fire from escaping.
- Find a level spot away from overhanging branches, brush or dry grass. Keep away from the base of a hill, because escaped campfires can travel uphill very quickly.
- Beware of duff, or the layer of decomposing material lying on the forest floor between pine needles and bare dirt. Duff burns, while bare dirt does not.
- Never leave a fire unattended, even for a few minutes! It only takes a moment for a fire to escape. Be sure a responsible person is present when a campfire is burning. Leave the permit with that person and make sure they are aware of the terms of the permit.
- Extinguish the fire with water and a shovel, using the “drown, stir and feel until it’s dead out” method.
- Using the back of your hand, check the ashes to see if heat is still present. Additional water and stirring may be needed to confirm that the fire is out before you leave the campsite. Walk and check the area 50 feet around fire pit to make sure embers or sparks did not escape.
- Charcoal briquettes should be extinguished by placing them in a bucket of water, stirring them thoroughly, then pour them into the fire pit.
- You can and likely will be held liable for the cost of suppressing any wildfire that starts due to negligence from your campfire.
We invite you to enjoy the Stanislaus National Forest during this 4th of July holiday, and remember, as Smokey Bear has been saying for 75 years, only YOU can prevent wildfires!
Please contact any ranger district front desk if you have questions about what recreation opportunities and conditions on the forest.
Stanislaus NF Supervisor’s Office: 209-532-3671
Calaveras Ranger District: 209-795-1381
Groveland Ranger District 209-962-7825
Summit Ranger District at 209-965-3434
Source: Stanislaus National Forest
