Submitted by Pacific Northwest Region Olympic National Forest
As the Fourth of July holiday approaches, fire officials want to remind visitors that fireworks are prohibited in all national forests.
“Fireworks of any kind are prohibited on the Olympic National Forest,” says Micah Johnson, Zoned Fire Management Officer, “we welcome visitors to our public lands, however, we ask that everyone stay safe and deal with fire responsibly.”
Fireworks are banned on national forests at all times, regardless of weather conditions. Violators can be subject to a maximum penalty of a pine of $5000 and/or up to six months in jail. Additionally, anyone who starts a wildfire can be held liable for suppression costs.
At this time, no other fire restrictions for the public are in place on the Olympic, but visitors are asked to be mindful of Washington’s increasingly dry conditions when visiting the national forest this summer.
If you plan on having a campfire, please remember:
- Know before you go whether campfires are allowed where you are visiting and check if fire conditions have changed
- Use a designated fire ring when available
- Keep fires away from low-hanging vegetation
- Keep water and a shovel nearby
- Extinguish all campfires before leaving – remember, if it’s too hot to touch, it’s too hot to leave
Enjoy a great Fourth on your public lands, and play safely and conscientiously. Additional campfire and wildfire safety information can be found at www.smokeybear.com.
