With fire season ahead, Eldorado National Forest enacts campfire restrictions
Beginning Friday, Eldorado National Forest will set additional summer restrictions on campfires.
The restrictions for the forest east of Placerville prohibit using wood, coal or stove campfires outside “developed recreation sites and wilderness” such as campsites. The restrictions are part of a broader push by the National Forest Service to minimize risks for man-made forest fires during Northern California’s driest summer months, particularly as day access to sites shuttered by coronavirus orders begins to open.
“Firefighters have a challenging season ahead, “ Eldorado Forest Fire Management Officer Jay Kruth said in a prepared statement. “All efforts to reduce unwanted wildfires will make a difference. By eliminating illegal campfires and being careful when using power tools outside, the public can help us be successful.”
Visitors to Eldorado Forest with a state campfire permit may still use stoves, grills, or lanterns that use pressurized liquid or gas as long as they remain three feet from any flammable materials. They may also still use established stoves and fire rings found at campsites.
The Forest Service has issued similar campfire restrictions in previous years at the start of summer months.
Forest fire season is a yearly occurrence in Northern California. Changes in air quality and drought can contribute to the susceptible conditions for wildfires. Still, according to the Forest Service, about 95 percent of California wildfires are human caused, often due to unobserved campfires, negligently discarded cigarettes and intentional acts of arson, among other factors
The other Tahoe-area national forests, like the Lake Tahoe Basin, Tahoe and Plumas, are expected to release restrictions similar to those of Eldorado National Forest.
Eldorado National Forest campfire restriction are set to last until the end of November.
This story was originally published May 29, 2020 at 1:24 PM with the headline "With fire season ahead, Eldorado National Forest enacts campfire restrictions."