Sonora, CA…The Stanislaus National Forest provides the following information about abandoned campfires and trash left behind on forest. Throughout the 4th of July holiday week, there was 42 abandoned campfires that were found and extinguished by fire and recreation staff. These abandoned campfires, if left unfound, could easily become an out of control wildfire. It is a requirement for all forest visitors in California, to have a valid California Campfire Permit. When you obtain this permit, you receive the expectations as a forest visitor on how to properly build, maintain and extinguish your campfires. The current fine for a campfire violation on the Stanislaus National Forest is $380. We want everyone to have the opportunity to enjoy our forest public lands. It only takes one abandoned campfire to become the next major wildfire in California.

Recreation and fire units also picked up over 100 bags of trash throughout the forest. This trash is not only unsightly and smell terrible, it is harmful and potentially deadly to our local wildlife and natural resources. All trash must be disposed of properly, and you can be cited a $150 fine for not doing so. This means, “failing to dispose of all garbage, including any paper, can, bottle, sewage, waste water or material, or rubbish either by removal from the site or area, or by depositing it into receptacles or at places provided for such purposes” per CA Penal Code 261.11(d). If trash bins are unavailable for a remote location and you packed it in, please Pack It Out!

Please see photos attached to this release and PLEASE be a responsible forest visitor.
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