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Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Trip Planning Forum :: Fire Ban 6/30/2020
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| Author | Message Text | ||
| MikeinMpls |
tigag: "Acquaintance told me they went up a few yrs ago during a fire ban and ignored it. Said he was excessively careful and only used fire to cook fish. Said he was willing to pay fine if caught. I thought this was pretty irresponsible, but he claimed it was only a 50.00 fine for each camper. I can't believe it is only 50.00 but he swears by it. Thoughts? " This is the kind of crap that ruins it for everybody. The rules are only as good as the people who follow them. And, if this person was so willing to flaunt the fire ban, it would not surprise me if they were willing to flaunt the cans and bottles rules, bathing in the lake, and garbage in the latrine rules. As others have said, if this person causes a fire, they will be responsible for paying for the fighting of it. But worse than that is the ruin of the forest for others through selfishness and their attitude that rules are for other people. I am quite sure this is not a concern to this person. Mike |
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| Canoeinggal |
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| Zanzinger |
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| Josh S |
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| CoachBigD |
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| gotwins |
Just got off the phone with Sawbill outfitters. They said that a fire ban is supposed to go into effect tonight. As of now, I haven't seen anything official from the USFS, but thought I'd give a heads up on it. We're going in on Friday, July 3rd. They got a little rain yesterday, but not much and it's still very dry up there. Probably also coincides with the 4th of July weekend. |
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| olsonm37 |
I figure the latter, but curious as I have never encountered the fire ban up there before |
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| LindenTree |
olsonm37: "Curious to know, with a couple big storms in the forecast this next week is that enough to lift the ban or would we need to have a 5 out of 7 day rain type to do so? I think you would need 1-2 inches of soaking rain and a wet forecast in the future. Even with 1-2 inches of rain, if the 10 day forecast is for dry and hot weather, I doubt the ban would be lifted. |
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| tigag |
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| moose664788 |
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| TheOnion |
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| gotwins |
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| tigag |
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| dadof6 |
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| backpackingZombie |
I'm heading up on the 9th via Hungry Jack Outfitters |
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| cyclones30 |
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| gotwins |
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| sns |
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| lindylair |
SUPERIOR NATIONAL FOREST RESTRICTS CAMPFIRE USE Contact(s): Suzanne Hirsch suzanne.hirsch@usda.gov or Trent Wickman trent.wickman@usda.gov Duluth, MN June 30, 2020 – Due to worsening fire danger conditions, the Superior National Forest is restricting the building, maintaining, attending or use of a fire or campfire to reduce the likelihood of a wildfire on the Superior National Forest (Forest Order R9-20-07). Exemptions under this temporary Forest Order is the use of a stove or grill that is solely fueled by liquid petroleum or liquid petroleum gas fuels (pressurized liquid or gas stove) and campfires in approved fire rings in select Forest Service developed campgrounds. Current drought data shows the Forest in the ‘abnormally dry’ and ‘moderate drought’ condition categories. Drought conditions cause numerous impacts to the forest including, increased fire danger and a decline in lake and river levels. Due to these conditions, the potential for wildfires remains high in and around the Superior National Forest. With the continued lack of moisture and increase in temperatures, potential heat sources such as engines or campfires can easily ignite surrounding vegetation, resulting in a wildfire. Use of campfires is limited to the following Forest Service campgrounds: Birch Lake Campground Fall Lake Campground Fenske Lake Campground South Kawishiwi River Campground Whiteface Reservoir Campground Cadotte Lake Campground Sawbill Campground Crescent Lake Campground Temperance River Campground East Bearskin Campground Flour Lake Campground Iron Lake Campground Trails End Campground Devils Track Campground Two Island Campground These temporary restrictions will serve to reduce the risk of human caused wildfire in the National Forest. Where campfires are allowed, campers are urged to be extra vigilant when building and extinguishing campfires and carry out the following: |
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| lindylair |
Don't ya think they might mention the BWCA in their post for clarity? Talks about exemptions for certain campgrounds. But no mention of the BWCA which is the "essence" of the SNF and where 250,000 people camp each year. How hard would it be to have added "this fire ban includes all of the BWCA". Glad you are happy with the post. I wasn't. |
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| ledhead |
moose664788: "Maybe dumb question, but how much rain you think is needed to lift it? Can it be lifted after one big rain storm ?" Fwiw, my experience w USFS fire bans is, once enacted, they tend to last longer than many users think they should, and it’s probably a good thing. I live in CO mtns, fire bans and fires a regular event, and including fire bans in Feb, March and April, the latter two are 2 of our biggest snow months. |
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| gotwins |
lindylair: "Gee you are so smart. Maybe this helps? https://sawbill.com/2020/06/30/fire-ban/ |
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| Boppasteveg |
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| Jaywalker |
lindylair: "Gee you are so smart. Don’t be a smarty-pants Lindylair. Gotwins is right - rules governing the Superior National Forest clearly apply to all of the Superior National Forest unless some exemptions are mentioned. No one is happy about a fire ban - but most of us just don’t vent on other members of this forum because of them. |
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| smoke11 |
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| FTLOSBW |
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| tigag |
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| CoachBigD |
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| GraniteCliffs |
A fifty buck fine per person is another issue. I would not like either but my biggest issue would be the fact that I would not be able to relax if I knew I was knowingly in noncompliance in such a public way. I know this because I have been in the Q sans permit, RABC and fishing license on one occasion perhaps 30 years ago. Long story as to why but it was not what we had planned on doing. It was very late in the fall and we were quite certain we would not meet a ranger. But I kept looking back and forward on lakes expecting to see a ranger. Same thing once we were in camp. It simply was not a good feeling in a place you are normally fully at peace. And a fire when it is tinder dry? Nope. I did that once too about 40 years ago. In the wind. On a point. Yep, we had a ground fire that covered the point and scared me to death. I have been careful ever since. |
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| schweady |
FTLOSBW: "Curious as to how fire ban is applied to parties that entered prior to the ban going into effect and therefore would have no knowledge of the ban. I would hope the rangers would check your permit entrance date and give you a pass if you had a fire. Anyone experienced this situation or know? " First thing they do is ask for your permit. Yes, you get "a pass" if you entered prior to the fire ban beginning and your permit has no mention of a ban. A strong message about making a choice to start a fire in such obviously dry conditions is probably something one should expect. They will mark your permit with "Fire Ban" and sign and date it. (Entering under ban would mean that your permit is already marked as such.) |
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| mcspin50 |
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| LindenTree |
gotwins: "lindylair: "Gee you are so smart. Link |
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| crosfan |
tigag: "he claimed it was only a 50.00 fine for each camper. I can't believe it is only 50.00 but he swears by it. Thoughts? " I'm heading in on Saturday so was extremely disappointed to see the ban go into effect as this was planned as a twig stove only trip for us. We also have a tradition to cook steaks the first night which will be a bummer to miss out on and quite frankly I really prefer to grill fish over a fire then try to pan fry over a stove. I've come across multiple mentions of $5,000 fine for violating the fire ban. I find a reference here that violation is up to $5,000 maximum. Also there is again a mention of the 5k max here. All I know is I won't be finding out first hand what the fine is but also curious if anyone can confirm or has first hand knowledge. |
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| LindenTree |
tigag: "Acquaintance told me they went up a few yrs ago during a fire ban and ignored it. Said he was excessively careful and only used fire to cook fish. Said he was willing to pay fine if caught. I thought this was pretty irresponsible, but he claimed it was only a 50.00 fine for each camper. I can't believe it is only 50.00 but he swears by it. Thoughts? " "Excessively careful" and building a fire during a fire ban is an oddity. Looks like the fine could be up to $5,000, not to mention one will most certainly be charged the suppression costs if it spreads into the wildlands and then there is a ticket for that as well. "Allowing a fire to spread" $5,000 dollar fine |
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| schweady |
I hope your acquaintance is just as "excessively careful" at putting away his savings. Grrr... |
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| CityFisher74 |
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| Wow! |
tigag: "Acquaintance told me they went up a few yrs ago during a fire ban and ignored it. Said he was excessively careful and only used fire to cook fish. Said he was willing to pay fine if caught. I thought this was pretty irresponsible, but he claimed it was only a 50.00 fine for each camper. I can't believe it is only 50.00 but he swears by it. Thoughts? " If he or she had started a forest fire during a fire ban the consequences would have been life changing. Certainly not worth the risk. Campfires are great in the spring and fall but who wants to sit around a hot fire in the summer after a hot day? |