JACKSON, Wyo. — Nonprofit Friends of the Bridger-Teton (FBT) has reported finding three abandoned or unsafe campfires lately.
In a social media post on Tuesday, August 5, FBT said that Ambassadors for Responsible Recreation in Curtis Canyon had “frighteningly close calls” in these three instances.
FBT described the first occurrence as a “vigorous campfire ablaze in a self-made rock ring.” The campfire was burning in a wooded location with dead pine needles on the ground and many downed trees and branches in the area. The campers did not have enough water to extinguish the fire, and ambassadors gave them some extra gallons of water.
The second instance was when the ambassadors encountered a couple camping illegally, not in a designated campsite, who had a campfire directly under a group of conifer trees. The campers only had one gallon of water and some drinking bottles with water. The ambassadors game them several gallons of water.
The final close call was when the ambassadors found an empty campsite with a large tree stump that was burnt, still hot and sticking out of the metal fire ring. The fire ring still contained hot ashes. The fire was extinguished, and the stump was towed down the road to a dirt ditch far away from vegetation.
Fire danger in the valley is “very high,” which means that fires can start easily and spread quickly. FBT is asking campers to follow these simple steps to make sure campfires are fully out before abandoning: drown, stir, feel and repeat.
Teton Interagency Fire has recorded 75 unattended campfires this year.
