Federal, state officials urge fire safety during July 4 holiday

As the nation gears up for the July 4 holiday weekend, Kootenai National Forest and Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation encourages everyone to help prevent human-caused fires with a few helpful tips while visiting public lands.

Nationally, 9 out of 10 wildfires are caused by humans, including half of all wildfires on national forests.

Keep these tips in mind to help prevent human-caused wildfires:

- Leave fireworks at home

- Fireworks are never permitted on the Kootenai National Forest.

- Keep vehicle safety in mind

- Do not drive or park on dry grass. Hot exhaust pipes or sparks can start a fire.

- When pulling a trailer, be sure safety chains and other metal parts aren’t hanging from your vehicle – loose chains can drag and cause sparks.

- Skip backyard fireworks if conditions are risky. Attend a public fireworks show instead for a fun and safe celebration.

- Never light fireworks near dry grass, trees, or brush, and avoid forested areas entirely.

- Have water, a hose, or a fire extinguisher nearby in case of emergencies.

- Light fireworks one at a time, move away quickly, and soak used fireworks in water before disposing of them.

- If a fire starts and you can’t control it, call 911 immediately.

Drown your campfire

Where campfires are allowed, choose a site with an existing ring. Fire pits in established campgrounds are the best spots. If you choose to build a campfire, avoid building it near your tent, structures, vehicles, shrubs or trees and be aware of low-hanging branches overhead. Clear the site down to bare soil, at least five feet on all sides, and circle it with rocks. Store unused firewood a good distance from the fire.

Never leave a fire unattended and make sure your fire is ‘dead out’ and cold to the touch before leaving your campsite. Use the drown, stir, feel method when extinguishing your campfire. If it’s too hot to touch, it’s too hot to leave.

Never build a campfire in an unauthorized area or in an area that is under fire restrictions. The Kootenai National Forest is currently not under any fire restrictions but is in High fire danger. Find information on fire restrictions at https://www.mtfireinfo.org/

Consider alternatives to a campfire such as portable gas stoves that use bottled, liquid fuels or a propane fire ring.

Smoke Responsibly

Follow all posted restrictions. Never discard cigarette butts on the ground or in vegetation. Fully extinguish cigarette butts before throwing them away.

Practice firearm safety

When target shooting, take a few simple precautions to prevent an accidental fire:

- place your target on dirt or gravel,

- switch to paper targets,

- avoid incendiary targets and exploding ammunition,

- bring a shovel and fire extinguisher, and

- report any fires by calling 911.

 Know before you go

Check online at https://www.mtfireinfo.org/ or with the nearest ranger station about any fire restrictions or closures that might be in place before leaving home.

Visit One Less Spark for more great tips on how to prevent wildfire and be prepared for fire season. To learn more about campfire safety visit www.smokeybear.com.

For more information on regulations for the Kootenai National Forest, please visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/r01/kootenai.