SAN JUAN NATIONAL FOREST
15
Burnett Court
Durango,
Colorado 81301
970
247-4874
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 28, 2016
Be Careful with Fire this July 4th Weekend
Durango, Colo. – Currently, there
are no fire restrictions in place on the San Juan National Forest lands;
however, Stage 1 fire restrictions are in effect on private lands in Montezuma
and Archuleta counties. Fire danger is rated as high in many areas, especially
in the lower elevations and areas south of U.S. Highway 160. The possibility of
imposing Stage 1 restrictions on National Forest lands exists if weather and
fuel conditions warrant. The public is encouraged to be careful with fire over
the July 4th weekend and the rest of the summer by following these
safety tips:
·
Clear
the area around campfires of all burnable material.
·
Keep
a bucket of water, shovel, and other implements on hand in case wind or other
conditions cause your campfire to get out of control.
·
Never
leave a campfire unattended. Make sure campfires are completely out before
leaving. Stir water and dirt into the coals until the coals are cool to the
touch and there is no smoke.
·
Extinguish
smoking materials only in cleared areas free of vegetation or debris.
Never toss cigarette butts out the car window.
·
Don’t
park cars or recreational vehicles over dry vegetation. Exhaust systems can
reach temperatures of more than 1,000 degrees; hot enough to start a wildfire
during the summer.
·
Use
an approved spark arrester on off-road vehicles and chainsaws. Check and
replace spark arresters periodically.
·
Fireworks,
including sparklers, are always illegal on National Forest lands. The penalty
for violators is a maximum of six months in prison and/or $5,000 fine. Anyone
responsible for starting a wildfire may also be held responsible for the cost
of putting it out and for damage caused.
For up-to-date information on
fire conditions, contact the San Juan National Forest Office nearest you, visit
our Website at: www.fs.usda.gov/sanjuan,
or follow us on TWITTER @SanJuanNF
To report a fire on federal lands, contact
the Durango Interagency Fire Dispatch Center, 970-385-1324.
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