Protecting Coos, Curry and Western Douglas Counties since 1910
Campfires
CFPA has rules and regulations regarding campfires during a closed fire season. These regulations fall under the Regulated Use Closure and follow the Regulated Use Chart
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Green = Low fire danger, campfires are permitted with landowner approval.
Blue = Medium fire danger, campfires are allowed at designated locations - only.
Yellow = High fire danger, campfires are allowed at 24 hour hosted and managed campgrounds - only.
Red = Extreme fire danger, campfires are not allowed.
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Build A Safe Campfire
CFPA wants you to enjoy your parks, beaches, and mountains, and all recreational activity within the district, sitting around a campfire is one of the those activities.
A campfire is not a debris burn pile and should not be used as such, only firewood is permissible in a campfire. Your ring should not have any woody objects hanging over the edge or higher than your knees. A bonfire is not a campfire.
Always check with your local office if you are planning to have a campfire to assure that campfires are allowed in that location.
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For more information, contact your nearest CFPA Office -
If campfires are allowed, below are campfire building requirements to help ensure that your campfire will be safe.
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Select an open level spot away from trees, logs (including driftwood), stumps, overhanging branches, dense dry grass, and forest liter. Also avoid buildings and power lines.
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Clear a 10-foot fire circle (5-feet on all sides of the fire) to bare soil, removing all leaves, twigs, litter, and other burnable materials.
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Dig a shallow fire pit in the center of the circle, then circle the pit with rocks or place a fire ring in center, to shelter the fire from the wind.
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Build your campfire downwind and at a safe distance from any and all burnable materials. Place your stack of firewood downwind from the campfire and at a safe distance. Remember also the wind direction can change at any time.
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Never leave your campfire unattended, and after you light it, throw your match into the fire. Keep your campfire small to minimize the chance of a disaster.
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If any sparks escape the campfire, have a shovel or water handy to put them out.
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The location of your campfire will determine the fire tools that you will need to have with you. At a minimum, always be prepared with a couple of buckets of water, a shovel, and an ax.
When you leave the campfire for any reason, make sure you put the campfire out – DEAD OUT !!!! Drown all embers, sticks, and coals, especially those that might have fallen under the rocks, stir the coals to make sure all heat has been removed. Drown the area again. Make a sweep of your campfire site to look for hot embers, and pick up flammable materials you brought with you.
Please remember that wildfire prevention is your individual responsibility.
Be alert to weather conditions, ESPECIALLY WIND; and ALWAYS be careful with fire
By following the guidelines it lessens the chance of a fire caused by you, and helps to Keep Oregon Green.
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