As the Fourth of July approaches, fire officials want to
remind forest visitors that fireworks are illegal in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest.
“The use of fireworks on national forest lands is a major concern to us,” said Bobbie Scopa, fire staff officer for the forest. “Fireworks of any kind are illegal on all national forests.”
Forest Service personnel will be on the lookout for the illegal possession or use of fireworks in the national forest. "Our folks have been instructed to confiscate any fireworks they discover," Scopa said.
Scopa said there are monetary penalties for fireworks possession on the national forest. Violators can be subject to a citation and fine with a maximum penalty of $5,000 or up to six months in jail. Anyone who starts
a wildfire can be held liable for suppression costs. Those costs can be substantial, often running into hundreds of thousands of dollars or more.
“Although we still have a good amount of moisture in the high elevation areas of the forest, lower elevation areas are drying out and we are concerned about the use of fireworks in areas adjacent to national forest lands,” said Scopa.
With the forecast for an above average fire season, firefighters will be busy enough working on lightning-caused fires. They don’t need any additional human-caused fires to deal with, Scopa said.
“We want people to enjoy the holiday but we also want them to leave their fireworks at home,” she said.
Forest visitors are encouraged to enjoy local fire works displays and save their fireworks for New Year’s Eve.
Fire officials are also concerned about campfire use on the
Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. Firefighters extinguish one or two abandoned campfires almost every weekend. Campers must ensure their campfire is completely out and cold to the touch before leaving campsites.
Remember if you are going to have a campfire:
Use an existing fire ring or construct a fire ring out of rocks.
Clear all vegetation away from the ring and don’t build a campfire
underneath low hanging tree branches.
Keep water and a shovel nearby.
When you put your campfire out:
Drown it with water.
Stir the embers after they are covered with water and make sure
everything is wet.
Feel the coals and embers with your hands. They should be cool to
the touch.
© Copyright 2006 by North Cascades Broadcasting, Inc
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