http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/tahoe/news/08_news_releases/images/escaped_fire.jpg

Illegal, Abandoned Campfires Continue in the TNFNevada City..... Tahoe National Forest fire officials are strongly reminding recreationists that campfires are restricted to specific designated campgrounds and other developed recreation sites. According to Don Will, Deputy Fire Chief for the Tahoe National Forest, “So far this summer, we have responded to over 35 reported abandoned campfires, 6 of which have escaped, burning outside the fire rings and into the forest. We have been lucky so far this year in that these escaped campfires did not cause a major wildfire. But I am concerned that recreationists are not recognizing the dangers of campfires – that they are continuing to build them where they are illegal and they are not putting them out.”

http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/tahoe/news/08_news_releases/08_jul_30_illegal_fire_problem.shtml

http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/tahoe/news/08_news_releases/images/escaped_fire.jpg


WTF is wrong with some people?

http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/tahoe/news/08_news_releases/images/escaped_fire.jpg


To me it looks like a set up. The fire is in a grove of trees with nowhere really stand around it. There is a pile of rocks, not any sort of a ring. There are a ton of needles on the ground. There is no sign of any burnt wood, but there is a pile of small sticks on the left that are what was left to most likely start it. Now it is possible that someone truely had a fire there, but everything about it is wrong.

Their information said "accessible only in four wheel drive" So you can't walk there?

Just my 2cnts

Lightening strike?

To me it looks like a set up.

The fire is in a grove of trees with nowhere really stand around it.

There is a pile of rocks, not any sort of a ring.

There are a ton of needles on the ground.

There is no sign of any burnt wood, but there is a pile of small sticks on the left that are what was left to most likely start it.

Now it is possible that someone truely had a fire there, but everything about it is wrong.

Their information said "accessible only in four wheel drive" So you can't walk there?

Just my 2cnts

http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/tahoe/news/08_news_releases/images/escaped_fire.jpg

Brilliant my Dear Watson. When you really look at it...

Not that we are calling anyone a liar, but wolverines and lynx's have been used before.

And statements like Their information said "accessible only in four wheel drive"
sounds like we are already guilty. How sad.:(

Hard to say but that looks like the area by the block outhouse on the Eagle Lake side. Not really an OHV only place.

We stopped today and put out an unattended camp fire at Fordyce lake. It was blazing up with nobody around. We dumped water on it and threw sand on it.

Nice job John. People dont take into consideration that even though a fire looks out and has no smoke that it still holds heat and that as the sun comes out and wind comes up that it can come back to life.

That's exactly what happened. The wind came up and stoked it. It was my friend Larry that noticed it. I drove right past it :(

Good job John/Larry! We are looking into getting better signage at the lake and the trail heads letting people know when you can not have a campfire. I'm thinking most people that make a fire just do not know.

The Result of an Abandoned, Illegal Campfire


(USDA Forest Service, Tahoe NF Archives)

This fire was found by a Fire Prevention Technician on her normal patrol near the Fordyce Creek Jeep route, accessible only in four wheel drive. The fire was poorly extinguished and then abandoned by persons unknown. When it was found, it had burned an area 10 by 20 feet and scorched the small cedar in the right center hot enough to kill it, as well as ruin a popular campsite. We were fortunate to find and suppress this fire before it became a major wildfire.

Please obey fire restrictions and be extra careful with all flame sources.

================================================== ========

They are obviously making a point about the fordyce "jeep trail" "accessible only by 4x4"

Last year on july 1 weekend the forrest service commented about multiple illegal fires on fordyce trail the weekend of the closure when fire restrictions were already in place. On that weekend we drove through and observed a campfire in every single campground along the creek bottom. We looked the other way as i think we all do. noting how stupid those people were and going about our business. problem is at this point in this fire season especially after the FS posts a picture like that one we can not afford to look the other way when other camps along the trail are still having illegal campfires. a fire get's started and fordyce will be gone forever. It seems though as so few of the travelers of the trail seem to grasp the depth of the consequences and the seriousness of the current fire conditions along the trail.

Nothing like becoming the poster child event for all the greenie organizations looking to close us out by having a fellow 4wheeler burn down one of the crown jewels of the 4 wheel drive trails

This is sad , I was there two weeks ago and thought I was going to have to fight a group of people on the trail about having a camp fire.
Some people just don't get it and I might add these people were not kids they were 40's and 50's there argument was why cant responsible people have a fire
Half the state is on fire and they want to argue about it, I am at a loss as how to deal with people like this :shaking:

One of these times we will not be so lucky and a fire well get away . I hate to see this happen but with the mentality people have it seems almost inevitable .
I have been taking my boys for years my oldest is thirteen and drove for the first time this trip and I hope that when my younger one is ready it well still be there for him also

Maybe we need to post up a Campfire Sticky reminder?

I know it seems remedial, but if it helps?

.

I like the signs

when will people realize that you have to dump water on these! churn it and make sure you get all the hot spots out... didnt they learn that in boy scouts

when will people realize that you have to dump water on these! churn it and make sure you get all the hot spots out... didnt they learn that in boy scouts

I think you've hit on the problem we face today- lack of education. IMO, many of the newer OHV users didn't get the same eduucation you and I apparently did. Their Dad or Grandpa didn't take them into the woods and they never learned the camping basics:shaking: Signs like Bebe posted up would go a long way to help in the education process but we each need to step up when we see someone being careless.

I also like the sign above. In boy scouts we were taught to pour on water, stir and repeat until you were sure it was out. You need to make sure you are getting the coals that are in between the rocks of the fire ring. The last two things to do were to put your hand in the bottom of the wet ashes and verify it is out then stab a long stick into the middle of the fire pit and leave it there. This will show that any forest fire didnt come from your fire pit.

I think you've hit on the problem we face today- lack of education. IMO, many of the newer OHV users didn't get the same eduucation you and I apparently did. Their Dad or Grandpa didn't take them into the woods and they never learned the camping basics:shaking: Signs like Bebe posted up would go a long way to help in the education process but we each need to step up when we see someone being careless.

It's amazing the amount of people that don't know that you need a camp fire permit or even where to get one.

On my last trip up there, we saw a ton of past fires that we set on tree roots. What is that all about?

Like people used the roots to start their fire pit or something?

On my last trip up there, we saw a ton of past fires that we set on tree roots. What is that all about?

People don't realize that you have to create a clean spot to built a fire ring (if that is even permitted). All of the burnable material needs to be moved away to create a 6' ring of dirt and rock. What a lot of people think of as "dirt" is really fuel that will continue to smolder and with a little breeze, it will create a fire and creep out of the "fire ring".

It's all about the education. A little preparation goes a long way.

It's amazing the amount of people that don't know that you need a camp fire permit or even where to get one.

And many don't know you need a fire permit to have a propane stove or bbq ;)