News Release

No Campfires, No Charcoal Grills Allowed at Whiskeytown

Date: June 17, 2021

Whiskeytown, CA - To reduce the threat of unwanted fire this summer, Whiskeytown National Recreation Area is issuing a temporary ban on campfires and charcoal grills. The ban goes into effect Thursday, June 17th at 12:00 pm noon. Gas grills and camper stoves will still be allowed.

The temporary ban on campfires and charcoal grills is a safety measure and comes at a time of extreme heat, extreme drought, and increasing visitation throughout the park.

“Thank you to all our visitors for abiding by these temporary fire bans,” noted Park Superintendent Josh Hoines in a statement. "Although it’s been only three years since the Carr Fire, there has been major vegetation regrowth; the threat of another large fire within the park is real.”

Already this year, two accidental, human-caused fires have occurred in the national recreation area. Fortunately, both fires were put out quickly by park staff and partners. Additionally, park headquarters received only 21 inches of rain last winter, or only about one-third of average.

In addition to supporting the temporary bans on campfires and charcoal grills, visitors are encouraged to take the following precautions when recreating within the park:

• Maintain your vehicle properly and ensure nothing is dragging on the roadway.
• Only park in designated park lots. Do not park on or near dry grass or vegetation.
• Always keep an eye on your gas grill and camper stove and turn burners off when not in use.

For questions about Whiskeytown National Recreation Area's temporary ban on campfires and charcoal grills, please contact Josh Hoines, Park Superintendent, at [e-mail]. 

www.nps.gov/whis

About Whiskeytown National Recreation Area. Whiskeytown is one of over 420 parks within the National Park System. Whiskeytown National Recreation Area was established in 1965 to protect Whiskeytown Lake and surrounding habitat and to provide outdoor recreation opportunities for the people of the United States. The park protects a diversity of plants and animals and preserves cultural history of the Wintu People and California Gold Rush. Whiskeytown is visited by almost one million people each year. For more information, visit the park website or connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.