Forestry: Use campfires with caution

CHICKALOON — Division of Forestry officials are reminding people using the backcountry to ensure their campfires are cold to the touch before leaving the area.

Forestry spokesman Sam Harrel said fire crews were on scene Wednesday for a forest fire that spread over 2.8 acres, but posed no danger to life or property, forestry officials said. He said crews were using helicopters and bucket drops to extinguish the fire.

“It’s a fire that’s rather inconsequential, but we’re mainly using it to get the message out about fire safety,” he said.

Sheep and caribou hunters are already in the field in many parts of the state, and moose-hunting season starts next Monday.

While officials weren’t ready to say that hikers or hunters definitely caused the fire, preliminary indications suggest a party of sheep hunters as the cause, according to Forestry officials.

Hunters and backpackers should take care to ensure their campfires are cold to the touch, Harrel said. Even fires that look like they’re out can smolder for days, potentially starting forest fires.

In addition to campfires, combustion-engine-driven equipment, like four-wheelers and chainsaws should be equipped with spark arresters and inspected prior to use outdoors, Harrel said.