Going camping? Be very careful
The Kitson Ridge far last summer near Oakridge By Tom Adams KVAL NewsNEAR LOWELL, Ore. - John Poet walks right into his worst nightmare: an unattended campfire, the embers still burning -- and capable of turning Oregon's green forests into a charred landscape.
"We'd like them to have a great time," said Poet, fire prevention officer for the Willamette National Forest. "Enjoy the forests, but just be safe with fire." Camping and the Fourth of July just seem to go together, and places like Bedrock Campground in the Fall Creek, Ore., area will be jam packed with people. Six years ago, the Fall Creek area was the scene of utter devastation. The Clark fire destroyed 5,000 acres of forestland, started by sparks from an abandoned campfire. Now, Bedrock Campground is on the mend. Poet wants to keep it that way. "That's where a fire is going to start," Poet said. "You can hear the material crunching under my feet like corn flakes." There's more danger above the ground, like dry tree moss. "You could just touch a smoking cigarette or a match to that and it's gone," Poet said. The big concern now is the weather -- and not just the rising temperatures. As fire danger moves ever higher, Poet can only hope campers use common sense. Never leave a campfire unattended, and douse your campfire with water until the coals are cool to the touch. And remember: All fireworks are illegal on public lands, like the National Forests. |
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