Campfire Restrictions

U.S. FOREST SERVICE NEWS RELEASE
Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest
215 Melody Lane
Wenatchee, WA 98801

For immediate release: July 9, 2010
Contacts: Michelle Ellis, Fire Management, Wenatchee River Division Chief, (509) 548-2550
Kyle Cannon, Fire Management, Columbia River Division Chief, (509) 682-4900
Susan C. Peterson, Okanogan-Wenatchee NF, Public Affairs, (509) 548-2558

Campfire Restrictions Begin On National Forest In Chelan County

Chelan County, Washington- Hot, dry weather and increased potential for fire have prompted forest officials to implement campfire restrictions in lower elevation portions of the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest located in Chelan County.

To help protect communities and natural resources from potential wildfire, campfire restrictions go into effect for dispersed areas of Chelan, Entiat and parts of the Wenatchee River Ranger Districts of the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, effective Friday, July 9, 2010.
A campfire restriction means that wood and charcoal fires are allowed only in designated campgrounds with fire rings, some classified Wilderness areas and specially designated sites. Pressurized liquid gas stoves are still allowed, but briquette fires are not.
The campfire restrictions include three developed campgrounds in the Icicle Valley. Campfires are not allowed at Chatter Creek, Rock Island and Black Pine Campgrounds. These campgrounds are inaccessible to motorized vehicles due to the Icicle Road washout above Ida Creek.
Campfires are allowed in designated campsites, special use areas and within the former Lake Wenatchee Ranger District boundary.
“A cool and wet spring delayed our local fire season, but summer has arrived and hot, dry conditions have cured fire fuels in our area,” said Michelle Ellis, Fire Management Division Chief for Wenatchee River. “We try to avoid implementing campfire restrictions in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest until absolutely necessary, but with very dry weather and high temperatures forecasted, we ask people to help reduce the potential threat of wildfire.”
Special areas where fires are allowed outside developed campgrounds include:
o Summer Homes and organizational sites with approved sites and special-use permits.
o Tumwater Canyon between Highway 2 and the Wenatchee River.
o The Lake Wenatchee Ranger District (northern portion of the Wenatchee River RD).
o Most Wilderness areas, except within 2 miles of Lake Chelan within the Lake Chelan-Sawtooth and Glacier Peak Wilderness.
Campfire restrictions will remain in effect until there is significant moisture to lesson fire danger. Kyle Cannon, Fire Management Division Chief for the Columbia River Division added, “Unfortunately, escaped campfires are the leading human cause of wildfires on the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest.”
Campfires become problems when campers fail to properly extinguish all flame sources before leaving their campsite. Cannon noted that people should, “Completely extinguish a campfire anytime you are away from your campsite, be sure to use an established campfire ring, clear vegetation away from any flame sources, and do not build a fire close to trees, stumps or roots and keep a shovel and bucket of water close by too. “
Additional information is available on the web at: http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/wenatchee or by calling Forest Service offices directly:

Wenatchee River Ranger District:
o Leavenworth office: Open Monday-Saturday, 7:45 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Phone: (509)548-2550.
o Lake Wenatchee office: Open Thursday-Saturday, 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Phone: (509) 763-3103
Entiat RD: Open Monday-Friday, 7:45 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Phone: (509) 784-1511
Chelan RD: Open Monday-Friday, 7:45 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Phone: (509) 682-4900.