Saturday, October 20, 2012

Sierra National Forest lifts campfire restrictions

Clovis, CA – Based on weather trends changing, an increase in relative humidity and a decrease in average temperatures the Sierra National Forest is lifting fire restrictions put in effect on Aug. 6.

Forest Visitors will still need to obtain a campfire permit if they are camping outside of designated campgrounds and follow all guidelines when having open flame fires.

Pancho Villa Expedition - Around the Campfire

Guidelines for forest campfires:

Clear all flammable material away from the fire for a minimum of six feet in all directions to prevent escape of the fire.
Avoid building campfires under hanging branches or over steep slopes,
Have a shovel available at the campfire site for preparing and extinguishing campfires.
Never leave a campfire unattended, Have a responsible person in attendance at all times.
Extinguish campfire with water, using the ‘drown, stir, and feel’ method.
In the wilderness, no campfires above 10,000 ft. (this varies by area, and will be posted on individual wilderness permits).

Woodcutting areas are still open. Please continue to contact the 24-hour information line at 559-346-1525 for information regarding any daily restrictions. The recording is revised at 5 p.m. daily.
Please be advised that woodcutting will close for the season on November 30, 2012.

For more information please contact the Sierra National Forest at one of the following locations: Clovis 559-297-0706, North Fork 559-877-2218, or Prather 559-855-5355.
Information is also available on the Sierra National Forest website at http://www.fs.usda.gov/sierra/.

CFN - California Fire News 2012

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How fires get their names

Every year in California thousands of wildfires start throughout the state. In most cases, the dispatch center sending the initial resources to a wildland fire will designate a name for the fire, but the first on scene engine or fire official can also name the incident. Fires are usually named for the area in which they start – a geographical location, local landmark, street, lake, mountain, peak, etc. Quickly naming the fire provides responding fire resources with an additional locater, and allows fire officials to track and prioritize incidents by name. For example during the Southern California Fire Siege of 2003, the largest wildland fire in California history, the Cedar Fire in San Diego County, was named after the Cedar Creek Falls area where it started. The destructive Old Fire, which burned during the same time period in San Bernardino County, was named after the road along which it started - Old Waterman Canyon Road.

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