KETCHIKAN – As the Fourth of July holiday approaches, residents, visitors and campers are reminded that all fireworks, including sparklers, are prohibited in the Tongass National Forest.
“People assume the restrictions apply just to developed recreations areas managed by the Forest Service, including campgrounds, picnic areas and day use areas,” said Forest Fire Management Officer Tristan Fluharty, “but no fireworks or pyrotechnic device of any kind may be discharged anywhere within the National Forests, regardless of weather conditions or holidays. We do not want to spoil anyone’s holiday, but we want the holiday to be enjoyable and safe for all forest visitors.”
The penalty for possessing fireworks can be as high as $5,000, imprisonment for up to six months, or both.
No other fire restrictions for the public are in place, but visitors are asked to be mindful when visiting the Tongass National Forest as most fires are human-caused.
• Keep campfires small.
• Only burn materials that fit within the campfire ring.
• Watch out for overhanging vegetation or limbs.
• Extinguish all campfires before leaving, even if gone for a short period of time.
For more information about forest fires, contact your local Forest Service ranger district or Forest Fire Management Officer Tristan Fluharty by phone at 907-228-6223 or e-mail tfluharty@fs.fed.us. Additional campfire and wildfire safety information may be found at http://www.smokeybear.com
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