Date: August 31, 2017
Contact: Penny Wagner, 360-565-3005
Beginning September 1, Olympic National Park and Olympic National Forest will restrict campfires to developed campgrounds and picnic areas only until further notice.
Olympic Peninsula federal land managers are instituting fire restrictions due to the long-term forecast for hot and dry weather, the current commitment of firefighting resources battling numerous wildfires around the nation, and the strain any new uncontrolled fires would place on these resources.
“With the high fire danger and staff already committed to suppressing fires across the country, we are enacting this fire restriction to conserve our firefighting resources and to help prevent additional fires,” said Olympic National Park Acting Superintendent Lee Taylor.
Gas camp stoves may still be used in Olympic National Park’s wilderness backcountry, but should be operated well away from flammable vegetation and forest litter. Taylor urges extreme caution with any open flame.
Visitors to national parks and forests should always use caution to prevent human-caused wildfires. To reduce the risk, please consider the following:
- Fireworks are prohibited on federal public lands.
- Before going camping, learn of any fire restrictions in place and never leave a campfire unattended.
- If smoking, always dispose of cigarette debris in some type of an ashtray.
To report a fire dial 911.
Active Fire Information- Incident Information System:
http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/
Olympic National Park information:
www.nps.gov/olym/
Olympic National Forest information:
http://www.fs.usda.gov/olympic
State and county area burn bans:
www.waburnbans.net
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