Improperly doused campfires in USFS found by residents

Sharing from a local community group after the author granted permission. It was posted July 28, but this is nothing new. For years, area residents have voluntarily patrolled camping areas near their neighborhoods all over the Pike National Forest and found unattended or improperly doused campfires. If you cannot recreate responsibly in the mountains, please do not do so.

I copied this from an email sent Sunday evening. I copied the content and deleted the names to protect the innocent. Be aware…

“This is an email today from some neighbors in KZ Ranch who VOLUNTARILY go up into Slaughterhouse and extinguish unattended campfires from the weekend (every weekend)!

**** and I just got in from our fire check drive on FR 101 - The Slaughterhouse Gulch road. Bad day up in the forest. We had to put out two fires, one of them a real dandy. Live coals and smoke at #6 but a six-foot wide burning fire at #8 where the A-holes who camped there cut down six live trees and left them feeding into the abandoned fire oily needles first. It was a real mess and it took everything we carry to deal with it. I am so mad and so totally bummed out. This is one that could have taken the whole valley given a decent south wind any time in the next few days. I am SO very grateful we went up there. We will go back in tomorrow with more retardant and an additional shovel so we can both work it if need be. We left it in good shape and I will sleep OK tonight, but will still want another look. Such a bummer! My heart just aches.

The Conifer and Evergreen areas are the highest risk for a devastating wildfire in Colorado. A wildfire has the potential to destroy thousands of homes and lives, and you are responsible if it gets out of control. Drown the fire with water, stir the coals, drown it again, then test it by touching it. Only when it feels cold to the touch is it truly dead out. Warm coals can smolder for days, and if there's a windy, dry, hot day afterward/Red Flag Warning conditions arise, those coals could be blown back up into a fire long after you've left. Thank you for helping keep our forests and homes safe.