Fire Safety

Fire Restrictions

Check our Current Conditions page for current fire restrictions in the park.

 

Make sure your fire is completely out before walking away. Having good fire sense can help prevent 24% of Utah's human-caused wildfires.

NPS Photo/Marcy Frutchey

 

Fire is a natural and important part of Bryce Canyon's ecology, but it can be dangerous to people and property. In order to keep our park and visitors safe, park staff work to educate the public to do their part - especially during periods of elevated fire danger. Here are some tips:

• Before heading out, check with the public land management agency where you'll be visiting to learn more about road closures or local fire restrictions. Find National Park Service alerts.
• Be aware of sudden changes in the weather or changing weather conditions. Bryce Canyon is highly susceptible to lightning strikes, since it is located at the edge of a plateau that is around 8,000 ft in elevation.
• Be careful of parking or driving your vehicle in tall, dry, vegetation. The hot underside of the vehicle may start a fire. Similarly, watch for chains or other objects that can drag on the roadway and cause sparks.
• If you see smoke, fire, or suspicious activities, note the location to the best of your abilities and report it to authorities. Do not try to extinguish the fire yourself.

 

Always check for fire restrictions before building a campfire.

NPS Photo/T.Zadi

Building a Safe Campfire

• Only build fires in designated areas. Check with the park you're visiting to ensure there are no current fire bans before starting a campfire. Check out current conditions in Bryce Canyon.
• Consider alternatives to camp fires during periods of high fire danger.
• Do not build a fire near overhanging branches, steep slopes, dry grasses, or leaves. If using a match to start the fire, ensure the match is extinguished before disposing of it.
• Keep fires small and manageable and always have plenty of water and a shovel (to smother the fire with dirt) nearby in case the fire gets out of control.
• Make sure the fire is completely extinguished before leaving it unattended, even for a moment! Drown the fire with water and stir it until all embers and coals are wet and the area is completely cold to the touch.
• Remember gas lanterns, barbeque grills, camp stoves, etc. can also be sources of ignition for wildfires.

 

Leave No Trace

The campfire, once a method of cooking food and providing warmth has changed into a symbolic representation of the tradition of camping. Maybe you can't imagine camping without a campfire, but do you really need one? The natural appearance of many areas has been degraded by the overuse of fires and an increasing demand for firewood. With other portable, lightweight options available, such as camp stoves, maybe you don't really need a fire after all. If you do decide to have a campfire, be sure to practice Leave No Trace principles by properly packing out (and disposing of) cigarette butts and other burned materials.

Avoiding unplanned wildfires starts with you! Do you have good fire sense?

 

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  Fire Ecology

  Learn more about forest succession and plant and animal adaptations to fire

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  Fire History

  Learn more about the history of fire suppression and recent major fires in Bryce Canyon

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  Fire Management

  Learn more about the past, present and future of fire management strategies in Bryce Canyon