Numerous abandoned campfires have turned into wildfires over the past two weeks. Our wildfire rangers have been out in the woods, putting out what appear to be campfires left to burn out on their own.
Please be aware: Mother Nature is not going to put out your campfire! With the lack of snow, any fires left alone continue to burn and smoulder, spreading through the grass, and digging down into the ground. In a snowy fall, the snow keeps the fire from spreading, but it still digs down into the ground and can burn all winter. Under our current conditions, the lack of snow is letting the fire creep and grow, and dig into the ground in a much bigger patch. When the snow comes, it will just cover the fire, insulating it and letting it burn until Spring.
Take the time to put your campfires out!
Put off any winter burning until we have more snow cover. And then remember to keep a close watch on your burn sites. If next spring is like this spring, the dry conditions will mean your winter burn could be a deep burning, hard to extinguish, spring wildfire.
Thanks for doing your part to prevent wildfire.
For more information, contact:
Leslie Lozinski
Forest Information Officer
780-623-9758