Unattended Campfires Are Unacceptable
Incident: New Fork Wildfire
Released: 8/1/2008
Pinedale, Wyo. -The Bridger-Teton National Forest is asking that all visitors to the Forest make a special effort to insure that their campfires are completely extinguished before leaving the area. A properly extinguished campfire is cold to the touch, and ashes are thoroughly wetted with water. "Leaving a campfire unattended is punishable by a monetary fine," said Fire Prevention Technician Nan Stinson. "If your abandoned campfire results in a wildfire, you could be held responsible for the cost of that blaze," she said.
The New Fork Lakes fire is burning 19-miles north of Pinedale, Wyoming and was determined to be caused by an unattended campfire. That fire is now 3600 acres and burning in the Bridger Wilderness area. A second fire was discovered late in the evening on Thursday, July 31 north of Bolder Lake, approximately 12-miles east of the town of Pinedale. The Blueberry Lake fire grew to 1 acre in size and is expected to be contained this evening. The Blueberry Lake fire was also caused by an escaped campfire.
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