Prevention
Help prevent wildfires this summer! Remember, fireworks are illegal on all federal public lands - including the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. Thank you for respecting the law and not using fireworks on federal public lands!
Please take the time to completely put out your campfire.
When putting out your campfire:
- First, drown the campfire with water!
- Next, mix the ashes and embers with soil. Scrape all partially burned sticks and logs to make sure all the hot embers are off them.
- Stir the embers after they are covered with water and make sure that everything is wet.
- Feel the coals, embers, and any partially burned wood with your hands. Everything (including the rock fire ring) should be cool to the touch. Feel under the rocks to make sure no embers underneath.
- When you think you are done, take an extra minute and add more water.
- Finally, check the entire campsite for possible sparks or embers, because it only takes one to start a forest fire.
- Remember…if it is too hot to touch, it is too hot to leave.
With the increase in homes being built in the wildland urban interface, protection of those homes presents a difficult challenge for the firefighting community. The public needs to understand that even though there are numerous resources available to suppress wildland fires, there is still a homeowner responsibility to make your home safe from a threatening wildfire.
A program called FIREWISE is available which describes what a homeowner can do to protect their house from a wildland fire. Following the guidelines outlined in the program, your home will be safer from an advancing wildland fire. Fires will occur in the wildland urban interface and with advanced planning your home can have a better chance of surviving.
Smokey Bear - Fire Prevention How To's
Only you can prevent wildfires, and here's how! While at home or on camping trips, follow these important safety tips.
Fire prevention and safety tips video
Each year escaped campfires are the leading human cause of wildfires in the National Forest. Don't let your campfire become a wildfire. Always check to see if any campfire restrictions are in effect before building a campfire.
If you are going to have a campfire:
- Use an existing fire ring, don't create a new one. When not in a designated campground, build your fire within a ring of rocks.
- Clear all vegetation away from the fire ring (remove all flammable materials such as needles, leaves, sticks, etc.)
- Select an open level spot away from trees, logs, stumps, overhanging branches, dense dry grass, and forest litter.
- Keep your campfire small.
- Keep plenty of water and a shovel nearby for throwing dirt on the fire if it gets out of control.
- Never leave a campfire unattended! Even a small breeze could quickly cause the fire to spread. Make sure a responsible adult is always in attendance.
For more information, visit the FIREWISE USA website