Volunteer for safe campfire pits | Wildfire Awareness Week event May 19
Published 7:41 pm Friday, May 11, 2012
In celebration of Wildfire Awareness Week, the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) would like to invite you to join us at our campfire pit clean-out event in the Bear Creek Campground. A DNR fire engine will be on hand for the kids to learn more about wildland firefighting.
In preparation for the start of the new recreation season, we will be working together to reduce the risk of wildfire due to escaped recreational fires on DNR-protected land. The work consists of clearing debris from and assessing campfire pits for maintenance and safety.
Who: Everyone is invited; no RSVP necessary.
What: Wildfire Awareness Week – Volunteers will be asked to visit campgrounds, clean out designated fire pits in preparation for the start of the new recreation season, and complete a basic assessment of each pit.
When: Saturday, May 19, 2012
9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Where: Bear Creek Campground, just west of Clallam, is located on the south side of US Highway 101 at milepost 206, along the Sol Duc River.
Why: Over the past four years, there have been nearly 700 wildfires that resulted from negligent campers leaving their fire pits smoldering and unattended. Another 100 campers left campfires burning without first making sure they were fully extinguished. Fortunately, those were reported and put out before they escaped.
Directions and web link:
For more information and directions, go to www.dnr.wa.gov/Volunteer.
For further information, call Eric Steffen at 360-374-2800 or email eric.steffen@dnr.wa.gov
Twitter feed
Calling all Smokey Bear helpers. It’s the pits…that need your help! http://1.usa.gov/68qoJ
DNR’s wildfire mission
Administered by Commissioner of Public Lands Peter Goldmark, DNR is responsible for preventing and fighting wildfires on 12.7 million acres of private, state and tribal-owned forestlands. DNR is the state’s largest on-call fire department, with over 1,000 employees trained and available to be dispatched to fires as needed. During fire season, this includes over 700 DNR employees who have other permanent jobs with the agency and about 400 seasonal workers. Additionally, adult offenders from Department of Corrections and juvenile offenders from the Department of Social and Health Services-Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration participate in the DNR correctional camps program. DNR also participates in Washington’s coordinated interagency approach to firefighting.
