A news release was published on March 25 from the Forest Service warning the public of the fire threat posed from the unusually warm spring weather in the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest and Thunder Basin National Grassland. The region is drier than usual with elevated winds, increasing the risk of fires.
Currently, there are no fire restrictions on the National Forest. The press release provides basic safety rules that campers should follow:
Scrape back dead grass and forest materials from you campfire site. Keep your campfire small and under control; make it only as big as you need it. Keep a shovel and a water container nearby to douse escaped embers. Put your campfire dead out before leaving your campsite or going to sleep. Do not park vehicles in tall dry grass, since hot tailpipes can cause fine fuels to catch on fire.
Remember that any ignition—cigarettes, campfires, gunfire, vehicles— could be the cause of a wildland fire, as grass and other vegetation is dry and extremely flammable. Always follow current fire restrictions. Fireworks are not allowed on federal lands.
If interested in more information, contact the Brush Creek-Hayden Ranger District, 2171 Highway 130, Saratoga, WY, (307)358-4690 or visit their website at http://www.fs.usda.gov/mbr.
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